The Gulf Research Meeting
The Most Prominent Global
Academic Meeting
on the Gulf Region
2010-2024
University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
The Gulf Research Meeting
Promoting Scholarship and Knowledge about the Gulf Region
2010-2024
2024 Gulf Research Meeting Participants
The Gulf Research Meeting - Over Fourteen years of Gulf Studies
A Message from the Chairman
The Gulf Research Centre Cambridge (GRCC) was established to foster Gulf studies
and establish strong links with one of the leading educational institutions in the world -
the University of Cambridge. The main activity of GRCC is convening the Gulf Research
Meeting (GRM), which has been organized annually since 2010. Since then, fourteen annual
meetings have been held bringing together more than 3,895 Participants in 150 workshops,
in which more than 2,000 research papers were presented and discussed. Out of this,
more than 50 edited volumes of research on the Gulf region have been published, ensuring
that together with the GRM Paper Series, the outreach extends far beyond the meetings
themselves. Since its establishment, the GRM has also extended its geographical reach, with
scholars and policy practitioners attending from throughout the world. Of particular importance is the participation
of the growing scholarly community from the Gulf countries themselves.
The goal of the Gulf Research Meetings is to bring together a community of scholars and specialists working on
the Gulf region in order to broaden the research literature on this critical region and to create a network through
which people from all over the world can come together to exchange views, present their work, enhance their
understanding on topical issues related to the region, and plan for future projects and collaborative research.
The Gulf Research Meetings are taking place at an important time, as the Middle East region is undergoing a
series of upheavals, and the critical Gulf region in particular is experiencing wide-ranging challenges and transitions.
This only underscores the need to bring people together in order to exchange views and re�ect on the current
developments which are impacting the Gulf region. The objective of the annual gatherings is to enhance knowledge
about the Gulf, promote scholarly and balanced research about the region, and encourage scholarly and academic
exchange among those interested in developments that are defining the Gulf region and its constituent societies.
The Gulf Research Meetings stimulate deeper research collaboration and provide a space for an open and frank
exchange of research-based views, where people of different backgrounds and specialties can gather together to
gain a better understanding of the forces defining and shaping the Gulf region.
The Gulf Research Meetings are also forward looking and address the possible future development of the Gulf
region, thus facilitating informed choices and contributing to substantive policy debates. The objective is clear –
long-term stability and prosperity for the Gulf region. This is even more important in the wake of the COVID-19
pandemic which more than anything in recent memory has underlined the need for contingency planning.
Dr. Abdulaziz O. Sager
Chairman Gulf Research Center
2024 Gulf Research Meeting Participants
The First 14 Years of GRM
14
2010-2024
Years
Workshops
150
3895
Participants
65
Books Published
453
Workshop
Directors
Hours of
Discussions
1950
45
Institutions
3420
Paper Presenters
The Gulf Research Meeting (GRM) offers a unique environment to explore matters of key importance to the Gulf region and provides a platform for discussion
and dissemination of research in a wide variety of Gulf-related fields, including economic and financial issues, international relations, security, environment, energy
and renewable energy, as well as education, labour and social issues. Committed to a high-level academic standard, the GRM's objective is to help generate
solutions to many of the region's pressing challenges.
Energy and
Renewable Energy
Security
International
Relations & Politics
Labour and
Migration Issues
Economic and
Financial Issues
Social & Media Issues
Education
Technology
and Innovation
Culture
and Heritage
Environment
TOPICS
Gulf Research Centre Cambridge
www.gulfresearchmeeting.net
Participants
from
Nationalities
60
of Participants from
the Gulf Region
40%
“Throughout the years, the Gulf Research Meeting has established
itself as a platform for effective engagement between researchers
from the region and international peers. Such gatherings promote
a better understanding of the region and enhance dialogue on
issues of shared concern.”
H.E. Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud
Minister of Foreign Affairs
of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
At the Gulf Research Center (GRC), one of the most important goals remains
the spread of scholarly research and knowledge relating to the Gulf throughout
the international community. In a bid to foster a greater understanding of the
GCC and the challenges the region faces, and to strengthen the links between
scholars from different regions, the Gulf Research Meeting (GRM) was created,
and its inaugural session was held in July 2010.
Under the direction of the GRC’s founder and chairman, Dr. Abdulaziz Sager, the
GRM is unparalleled in both its scope and value as far as scholarly and policy-
oriented research about the critical Gulf region is concerned. A �agship event
that is hosted annually at the University of Cambridge, the GRM brings together
hundreds of specialists, policy practitioners, and aspiring academics from the
Arab region and beyond to discuss the key opportunities and challenges facing
the GCC and enhance their knowledge about this unique part of the world.
Advancing Knowledge
At a time when the Gulf region continues to gain in strategic relevance, it is
more urgent than ever to expand knowledge about this critical part of the
world and to become more familiar with the issues that are defining its overall
development. Of equal importance is the promotion of scholarly and balanced
About the Gulf Research Meeting
Prof. David Cardwell, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Strategy and
Planning greeting GRM 2019 Participants on behalf of the
University of Cambridge
Dr. Abdulaziz Sager, Chairman of the GRC, presenting the
welcoming remarks at the GRM 2022 Opening Ceremony
“This was a unique opportunity to meet
with an outstanding cadre of elite
academics and researchers.” (2015)
H.E. Dr. Abdul Latif Bin Rashid Al
Zayani Secretary-General, The Cooperation
Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC)
research about the six member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (Bahrain,
Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates), its adjacent
neighbors that constitute the wider Gulf region (Iran, Iraq, and Yemen) and their
relations to one another as well as with the wider external environment.
Through parallel workshops dedicated to specific topics in the fields of politics,
economics, energy, security, and the wider social sciences, the Gulf Research
Meeting addresses the existing shortcomings, to provide correct and insightful
information about the region and promote mutual understanding between the
Gulf and the rest of the world as well as identify key areas of opportunity for
partnership and development.
Producing Output
Committed to high-level academic standards, the GRM’s objectives are to produce
policy input and generate solutions to many of the region’s pressing challenges.
Each year, workshops are selected on both their ability to contribute to the
development of literature on the Gulf and their relevance to issues of present
and common concern. In this manner, and through the intensive debates that are
part of the individual workshops, concrete ideas and initiatives are developed that
can then be disseminated to a wider audience through generated publications,
whether as short policy briefs, extended essays, or broader edited books. Such
discussions also lead to additional collaborative efforts among the participants
and their institutions beyond the framework of the GRM.
Panel discussion at the 2019 GRM Opening Ceremony
Amb. Stuart Laing, Master of Corpus Christi College, delivering
remarks at the 2017
10
11
“It is a great honor and privilege to
address such a distinguished audience.”
H.E. Mr. Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi
Secretary General of the Cooperation
Council for the Arab States of the Gulf
Creating Networks
Through its workshops and constant interaction among participants, the GRM
also promotes widespread research efforts among different institutions from
within the Gulf and other parts of the region to heighten awareness of Gulf-
specific issues. At the core lies the partnership between the Gulf Research
Centre Cambridge and the Centre of Islamic Studies at the University of
Cambridge. Universally recognized as one of the world’s leading educational
institutions, the University of Cambridge together with the CIS has provided
a strong commitment to foster cooperation and promote exchanges such as
the Gulf Research Meeting. Such collaboration opens the door to promoting
further work and links into a worldwide network of leading individuals and
research initiatives.
Beyond the University of Cambridge, the GRM brings together institutions
from throughout the world thereby creating additional opportunities for
networking and cooperation. Particular importance and emphasis is given to
encouraging young scholars, in particular from the GCC countries – including
those studying abroad - to engage in the debate and take part in research
collaboration. In this way, GRM provides a pathway for the future generation
and the role they will play in shaping the region’s development. The Gulf
Research Meeting is a ground-breaking and progressive project that the GRC
is proud to be at the forefront of.
Prof. John Duke Anthony, National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations,
Washington and H.E. Dr. Abdullatif Rashid Al-Zayani, Secretary-
General of the Gulf Cooperation Council at the GRM 2018
opening
Dr. John Sfakianakis, GRC Chief Economist addressing the
audience during the 2019 GRM Opening Ceremony
12
13
GRM Donors and Supporters
A sincere thank you to all the generous Donors and Supporters of GRM 2010 – 2024
Jabal Omar Development
Company
“A fabulous success that will yield
some excellent publication/policy
developments”
Dr. Beverly Metcalfe
Institute for Development Policy and
Management (IDPM)
University of Manchester
14
15
H.E. Luigi di Maio, EU Special Representative for the Gulf Region, meets with H.E.
Sheikha Jawaher Al-Sabah, Assistant Foreign Minister for Human Rights, MOFA,
Kuwait, before the GRM 2025 Opening Ceremony.
GRC Director and Senior Researcher Rafael Hernandez de Santiago,
walks with GRM 2025 participants to King’s College.
Dr. Tim Niblock, Exeter University, gathers with participants before the
GRM 2025 Opening Ceremony.
GRM support staff gather in front of King’s College.
GRM 2025 Opening Ceremony panel discussion with H.E. Mr. Jasem
Mohamed Albudaiwi, H.E. The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, and H.E. Luigi
di Maio, moderated by GRC Director of Research Dr. Christian Koch.
H.E. Mr. Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the
Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, speaks during the
GRM 2025 Opening Ceremony.
GRC Vice President Dr. Ahmed Sager with H.E. Mr. Jasem Mohamed
Albudaiwi and H.E. Luigi di Maio.
GRM 2025 workshop directors gather for a directors› briefing.
GRC Researchers Houda Barroug, Hannan Alghamdi, and Christine
Williams.
H.E. Mr. Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi participates in a panel discussion
moderated by GRC Director of Research Dr. Christian Koch.
H.E. Sheikha Jawaher Al-Sabah and H.E. Mohamed Jasem Albudaiwi
gather with GRM 2025 participants.
GRC Researchers Hannan Alghamdi, Christine Williams, Amnah Mosly,
and Layla Ali at the GRM 2025 participant reception.
GRC staff with GRM support staff at the GRM 2025 Reception Desk.
GRM 2025 participants
Opening Panel Discussion with H.E. Sheikha Jawaher Al-Sabah, H.E.
Amb. Nancy Jamal, and H.E. Dr. Manal Radwan, moderated by GRC
Director of Research Dr. Christian Koch.
H.E. Dr. Manal Radwan, Senior Advisor to the Foreign Minister, Ministry
of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, speaks at the GRM 2025
Opening Ceremony.