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Fiker Institute's Al-Khaleej Program is a new research initiative that will focus on the foreign affairs and policy developments of countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), namely Bahrain, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Areas of research priority include: foreign affairs, trade and economy, public policy, defense and maritime security, AI and technology, climate and sustainability. We are looking for research fellows from GCC countries to join this year-long program, which will include a mix of publications and programming. Those selected will undertake and conduct research on the specified thematic policy areas. The program is open to candidates currently undertaking, or having completed, doctoral research. Candidates with master's degrees and relevant experience in the field will be considered. To apply, interested candidates should submit their resume, cover letter, research proposal (500 words, which include proposed research titles and how they align with the program’s priorities), in addition to two writing samples that demonstrate the ability to produce and analyze research in the field. The required documents must be submitted in PDF format to gcc@fikerinstitute.org, and the deadline for accepting applications is April 15, 2025.
Majid Magazine: Identity & Collective Memory

Majid Magazine: Identity & Collective Memory

In 1979, the first issue of Majid Magazine, one of the oldest publications for children in the Arab world, was published in Abu Dhabi. Majid Magazine rapidly spread across the Arab world and contributed to forming a shared pan-Arab identity through its characters and themes.

Maryam AlMazrouei
Nation Branding in the Gulf

Nation Branding in the Gulf

For much of the 20th century, Arab oil-exporting states were defined as rentier economies, where a small percentage of the population – often just 2-3% – was involved in producing wealth that accounted for up to 80% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).1 According to modern interpretations of Adam Smith’s rentier theory, state revenue in such […]

Ahmed Buhejji
Gulf Philanthropy & International Development

Gulf Philanthropy & International Development

The global development landscape is undergoing a profound shift, marked by the retreat of traditional Western aid and the emergence of new philanthropic actors. Among these, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are becoming increasingly influential, leveraging their financial capacity and geopolitical capital to reshape development and aid paradigms. Once peripheral to mainstream global development discourse, GCC nations are now positioned […]

Abdulla N. Khoory