Addressing the Water Crisis in the MENA Region: Insights from The Young Leaders Academy
In June 2024, I had the privilege of representing MENA2050 as a speaker at The Young Leaders Summer Academy held at Bonn University. My presentation focused specifically on the water crisis in the MENA region, a pressing challenge that exacerbates food insecurity and drives human migration, particularly in conflict zones.
The MENA2050 Regional Vision Team Opinion Note : Integrating the EU and MENA Power Systems
The MENA2050 Regional Vision Team Opinion Note Integrating the EU and MENA Power Systems Authors: Omar Al-Ubaydli, Layal Alghoozi, Noora Alozaibi, Arnon Bersson, Noor Elgallal, Ben Grischeff, and Munya Yusuf; with support from ChatGPT in writing certain passages and conducting background research. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this note are those of the authors and […]
Leveraging OPEC to Enhance MENA Cooperation
The MENA2050 Regional Vision Team Opinion Note Leveraging OPEC to Enhance MENA Cooperation November 2024 Authors: Omar Al-Ubaydli, Layal Alghoozi, Noora Alozaibi, Arnon Bersson, Noor Elgallal, Ben Grischeff, and Munya Yusuf; with support from ChatGPT in writing certain passages and conducting background research. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this note are those of the authors […]
Gaming: A Catalyst for Transformation in the MENA Region
Gaming: A Catalyst for Transformation in the MENA Region MENA2050 is pleased to share the recording of our recent webinar on Morocco’s diplomatic approach in the Middle East, where we explored its unique ability to maintain strong relations with both Israel and Palestine. The MENA region is rapidly emerging as a global gaming powerhouse, with the […]
Webinar – Morocco’s Middle East Diplomacy: Balancing Ties with Israel & Palestine
MENA2050 is pleased to share the recording of our recent webinar on Morocco’s diplomatic approach in the Middle East, where we explored its unique ability to maintain strong relations with both Israel and Palestine. Key Discussion Points: Featured Speakers: This discussion provided valuable insights into Morocco’s historical and contemporary role in Middle East diplomacy, highlighting key figures, […]
Webinar: Facing the Challenge of Energy and Sustainability: Current Climate Tech Initiatives in the MENA Region
The Simple Regional Picture moved to a Complex Regional Sculpture
Between 2002 and 2022, the geostrategic picture of the Middle East region was relatively clear. There were clear colors of “camps” and “parties”: Iran as the enemy of almost all; American presence in Iraq (based on regional interests); the Arab Peace Initiative as a game changer of Israeli-Arab diplomacy, the Arab Spring and the Abraham Accords – all created a two-dimensional picture of potential alliances, with shared interests and logical drivers for cooperation.
Middle Eastern Perspectives 2: Regional Cooperation and Development
Israeli author Kobe Huberman wrote an article simultaneously published with my previous article under the same title. Huberman’s article was published on our Middle Eastern initiative’s website, MENA2050. Both articles discuss two key aspects: the transformation of the Middle East’s political landscape from 2002 to 2022 and the need to reshape perspectives into a three-dimensional framework to address challenges bravely. This includes reframing the peace process in the Middle East from a perspective of regional cooperation and solidarity, for the benefit of all people in the region.
While acknowledging the security challenges faced by the region, it is essential not to overemphasize them at the expense of supporting developmental initiatives that contribute to stability. Several examples demonstrate this point, such as the electricity-for-water initiatives involving the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and Israel. The establishment of the Saudi sovereign wealth fund’s direct investment initiative in Iraq with its various sectors, as well as the regional multi-party cooperation in electricity transmission to Lebanon and the connection of Iraq to the Gulf electrical grid, highlight the potential for regional collaboration and its positive impact on development.
Middle Eastern Perspectives
Attendance at the Herzliya Conference, or “Herzlia” as some pronounce it, is seen as a new station in exploring and understanding the spectra of Israeli politics and Israelis, as well as others who attended or participated in its sessions. Investigation was the key to all discussions to understand the details of recent approaches towards the (Chinese/American) region and the potential transformations it may produce in the regional balances. Despite the diversity of Israeli perspectives, their security concern remains the primary driving and governing force for their regional outlook, followed by the development of what the Abraham Accords have established. The third is achieving “normalization” with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which is manifested in their urging of the American ally to leverage all its political weight with Riyadh to achieve that. Despite the absence of accounting for the costs or consequences of such an approach from the Israeli side, or understanding and comprehending Riyadh’s priorities from its Saudi and Islamic perspective, the second driving force is the unstable political situation in Israel, which “repels” any possibility of such rapprochement.
The Establishment of the MENA2050 Climate Action Committee: Working Towards a Greener Future
Climate change is not just an environmental concern; it is a multifaceted challenge that affects socioeconomic factors, public health, and even geopolitical stability. The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, in particular, is highly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. With its arid climate, rapid population growth, and socio-economic disparities, the region faces significant risks such as increased desertification, water scarcity, extreme weather events, and rising sea levels. To address these challenges and seize the opportunities for regional cooperation, the MENA2050 Climate Action Committee (CAC) has been established.