Fiker Institute & the University of Oxford’s Global Security Programme Announce Research Partnership
Dubai, UAE – September 30, 2025 – Fiker Institute and the Global Security Programme (GSP) at the University of Oxford have announced a research partnership between their institutions to advance research and analysis on global governance and international security issues.
The agreement was signed today at Fiker Institute in Dubai, where Dubai Abulhoul, Founder of Fiker Institute, and Dr. Annette Idler, Director of the University of Oxford’s Global Security Programme, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This partnership brings together two institutions at the forefront of rigorous research and innovative policy dialogue, creating a shared platform for collaboration on some of the most pressing challenges facing the international community.
Commenting on the partnership, Dubai Abulhoul, Founder of Fiker Institute, said:
“This collaboration with the University of Oxford’s Global Security Programme reflects our shared commitment to pushing the boundaries of research and policy analysis on global governance reform and security, across multiple streams. At a time of shifting geopolitical realities, we see it as vital to elevate voices from across the Global South and to forge innovative approaches that respond to the realities of today’s world.”
Dr. Annette Idler, Director of the Global Security Programme, added:
“We are delighted to partner with Fiker Institute, whose work is transforming contextual discourse on diplomacy and governance in the Gulf and beyond. This collaboration offers an invaluable opportunity to link rigorous scholarship with the unique policy perspectives emerging from the region, ensuring that global debates benefit from greater inclusivity and relevance.”
The GSP is a leading research center on global security issues with projects focused on the interrelations of global power dynamics and local situations of insecurity, the global illicit economy and its networked supply chains, and the evolving character of conflict and its role for transitions from war to peace. Fiker Institute’s Global Governance & Diplomacy Program complements this mission through its critical exploration of shifting power structures in the global order. With a particular emphasis on the role of the Global South, Fiker Institute examines alternative models of multilateralism and rethinks traditional approaches to aid, development, and international accountability. By foregrounding perspectives from the region and beyond, the Institute has positioned itself as a thought leader in shaping inclusive and innovative approaches to global governance.
Together, the GSP and Fiker Institute aim to further research and dialogue on global governance and security through collaborations on events and public engagements, research initiatives, and joint publications. By combining the University of Oxford’s long-standing academic excellence with Fiker Institute’s innovative approach to policy engagement and cultural diplomacy, this partnership seeks to bridge the gap between research and practice, generating on-the-ground actionable insights that contribute to more effective global governance and security strategies.