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Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East

The Atlantic Council’s work on social, economic and human development issues in the Middle East honors the legacy of Rafik Hariri and his life’s mission to unlock the human and economic potential of the Arab world.

Explore the program

About the center

The Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East examines the barriers preventing many people in the region from reaching their fullest potential. Our work also highlights success stories of individuals and institutions who overcame significant challenges in pursuit of social, economic, and political progress. Inspired by these examples, we delineate practical and implementable policy recommendations that policymakers in the United States, Europe, and the Middle East can implement to unleash the region’s economic and human potential.

Featured commentary & analysis

Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East

MENASource Oct 22, 2024

Israel versus Hezbollah: Not a full-scale war—yet

By Nicholas Blanford

The Israeli army appears to have absorbed some of the lessons of its troubled 2006 experience fighting against Hezbollah.
Conflict Lebanon
Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East

MENASource Oct 18, 2024

The Kurdistan Region of Iraq is finally having its election. Here’s how it’ll play out.

By Shivan Fazil

Given the two main parties’ growing inability to compromise, it will likely be long and fraught.
Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East

MENASource Oct 16, 2024

Vision 2030 has done wonders for women. But there’s still room to enhance their economic roles in Saudi Arabia.

By Beata Polok and Maha Akeel

Saudi Arabia’s progress under Vision 2030 is impressive, but the journey is not yet over.
Civil Society Economy & Business
ALL COMMENTARY & ANALYSIS

Featured in-depth research & reports

Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East

Report Oct 22, 2024

The economic and social costs of the war in Gaza

By Perrihan Al-Riffai

After a year of war, Israel, the Palestinian territories, and neighboring countries need a permanent ceasefire. But with development gains erased, billions of dollars in infrastructure damaged, and skyrocketing unemployment, the Middle East also urgently needs a solid reconstruction plan.
Conflict Israel
Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East

Report Jul 30, 2024

Libya’s protracted crisis, ten years of electoral deadlock

By Ben Fishman, Alvaro de Argüelles Lugo , Mary Fitzgerald, Aldo Liga, Chiara Lovotti, Karim Mezran, Alissa Pavia

A decade has passed since the last elections were held in Libya, and the country remains mired in a stalemate and deeply divided.
Libya Middle East
Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East

Issue Brief Jun 5, 2024

Policy memo: What will it take to make the MENA region a renewable energy powerhouse?

By Shihab Elborai, Anthony Yammine, and Pavel Popikov

The Middle East and North Africa region is well placed to become not just a major source of renewable energy, but also a central and indispensable player in the global energy transition, uniquely able to balance supply and demand for all types of energy, both hydrocarbons and renewables.
Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance
ALL IN-DEPTH RESEARCH

Leadership

Staff

William F. Wechsler

Senior Director, Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

National Security Middle East

Staff

Jonathan Panikoff

Senior Director, Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Economy & Business Financial Regulation

Staff

Emilia Pierce

Deputy Director, Operations and Finance

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Civil Society Conflict

Staff

Gissou Nia

Director, Strategic Litigation Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Civil Society Corruption

Fellow

Sarah Zaaimi

Nonresident Senior Fellow, North Africa Program

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Crisis Management

Staff

Karim Mezran

Director, Resident Senior Fellow, North Africa Initiative

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Economy & Business

Former staff

Abbas Kadhim

Former Resident Senior Fellow, Iraq Initiative

Iraq Initiative Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Iraq Middle East

Former staff

Racha Helwa

Former director, empowerME Initiative

empowerME Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Economy & Business

Former fellow

Qutaiba Idlbi

Former Resident Senior Fellow, Syria

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Entrepreneurship Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

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Events

We convene the most important stakeholders on issues of primary concern to the transatlantic community when it comes the Middle East and North Africa, from senior US and Middle East government officials to civil society activists and budding entrepreneurs.

Online Event Wed, November 18, 2026 • 11:00 am ET

The future of Iraq-Syria relations
Iraq Politics & Diplomacy Syria

Past events

Online Event Thu, October 15, 2026 • 4:00 pm ET

Brett McGurk on ‘Brink: Inside the Race to Free the October 7th Hostages’
Israel Middle East Politics & Diplomacy
Online Event Tue, October 6, 2026 • 10:00 am ET

How Iraqis view al-Zaidi’s government, 100 days in
Civil Society Democracy Freedom and Prosperity Iraq
Online Event Tue, September 22, 2026 • 5:30 pm ET

President Ahmed Al-Sharaa on Syria’s future, reconstruction, and regional role

AN AC FRONT PAGE EVENT—Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa will discuss his vision for Syria’s future and his government’s priorities for reconstruction, economic recovery, and institutional reform.

Economy & Business Energy Markets & Governance Energy Transitions Geopolitics & Energy Security
Public Event Thu, September 10, 2026 • 9:00 am ET

US engagement with Iraq and the region after Operation Inherent Resolve 
Iraq Middle East Politics & Diplomacy Security & Defense
Online Event Mon, August 17, 2026 • 9:00 am ET

The Mecca Joint Defense Agreement and the future of regional security
Middle East Pakistan Saudi Arabia Security & Defense
Public Event Thu, July 30, 2026 • 10:00 am ET

Reporters at risk: The state of press freedom in Iraq
Iraq Middle East Resilience Resilience & Society
Online Event Tue, July 28, 2026 • 11:30 am ET

Transforming IMEC in response to the Iran war
Critical Infrastructure Policy Europe & Eurasia India Iran
Online Event Mon, July 27, 2026 • 4:00 pm ET

Opposition Leader Yair Lapid on the future of Israel and the region
Online Event Fri, June 5, 2026 • 10:00 am ET

Russia’s illicit exploitation of foreign nationals for its war against Ukraine
Europe & Eurasia Human Rights Resilience & Society Russia
Public Event Wed, May 13, 2026 • 9:00 am ET

The 2026 Iraq Dialogue
Geopolitics & Energy Security Iraq Middle East Politics & Diplomacy
ALL EVENTS

Content

SyriaSource

Aug 23, 2018

Chemical warnings and unintended consequences

By Frederic C. Hof

On August 21, 2018 the United States, France, and the United Kingdom issued a statement to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the Assad regime’s deadly chemical attack on civilians in the rebel-held Ghouta suburb of Damascus. According to the three powers, “we will respond appropriately to any further use of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime, which has had such devastating humanitarian consequences for the Syria people.”

Syria

SyriaSource

Aug 20, 2018

Returning to mass graves in Raqqa

By Khalifa Al-Khudr

Since this story was first reported in April 2018, further updates have come out on Raqqa’s mass graves, highlighting the challenges of collecting bodies and identifying missing people. This is an analysis with eyewitness stories from people who have gone back to Raqqa.

Syria

SyriaSource

Aug 15, 2018

The sticky situation of the final Idlib offensive

By Reema Hibrawi

The final offensive in Idlib has been an ongoing discussion among Syria analysts for years. Idlib province contains opposition fighters, activists, and civilians displaced from Homs, Aleppo, Hama, and various parts of Damascus.

Syria

SyriaSource

Aug 8, 2018

Is Syria lost to Iran?

By Frederic C. Hof

The short answer is “No.” A family and an entourage that placed itself at the disposal of Iran while burning much of Syria to the ground will not prevail, provided the United States and its partners begin to push back. Yet termites are at work, and the fulfillment of this proviso is far from certain.

Syria

SyriaSource

Jul 30, 2018

Russia’s refugee ploy

By Frederic C. Hof

Moscow’s sudden interest in expediting the return of Syrian refugees to their homes is not prompted by humanitarian concerns. Neither is it motivated by a desire to promote political conditions inside Syria that would encourage people to return to the country from which they fled.

Syria

SyriaSource

Jul 26, 2018

Here’s why Syrian women are integral to peace

By Tamara Alrifai and Rachel Dore-Weeks

Eight years and many conferences into the Syria conflict, Syrian women still struggle to have their voices heard in decision making forums that directly impact them as citizens, and as political, economic, and civil society actors. Syrian women present at the western male-dominated EU-UN conference, Supporting Syria and the Region—known as Brussels II—in April 2018, explicitly spoke to the political processes that failed to include them, and to an aid industry that did not address their needs, including in protection from violence. 

Syria

Issue Brief

Apr 18, 2018

The new Turkey: Making sense of Turkish decision-making

By Aaron Stein

This new issue brief by Atlantic Council Senior Fellow Dr. Aaron Stein explores the challenges facing the United States and Europe as Turkish politicians use foreign policy as a tool for populist political gain. To better understand the relationship between Turkish policy-making and public opinion, the Atlantic Council’s Rafik Hariri Center worked with Metropoll, a […]

NATO Politics & Diplomacy

Issue Brief

Apr 18, 2018

The new Turkey: Making sense of Turkish decision-making

By Aaron Stein

This new issue brief by Atlantic Council Senior Fellow Dr. Aaron Stein explores the challenges facing the United States and Europe as Turkish politicians use foreign policy as a tool for populist political gain.

NATO Politics & Diplomacy

Uncategorized

Mar 1, 2018

Iraq Initiative: Areas of Focus

Through vigorous research resulting in the publication of issue briefs, roundtable discussions, and an annual report for each year of the project cumulating in a final report, the four-year Atlantic Council Iraq Initiative will: Analyze Iraq’s energy sector with a view toward value maximization. Iraq has been blessed with abundant oil and natural gas reserves. […]

Uncategorized

Feb 28, 2018

About the Iraq Initiative

The Atlantic Council is leading a new, long-term initiative on Iraq. The aim is to expand on the work of the former Task Force on the Future of Iraq, which was chaired by Ambassador Ryan Crocker and developed to identify ways to support the Iraqis in stabilizing their state, reconciling their warring communities, and building […]

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