Flagship Events
upcoming events
past events

Flagship Events

2023 Inaugural Rafik Hariri Awards and Tenth Anniversary Gala

Wednesday, February 14, 2023
Kennedy Center

The Rafik Hariri Center celebrates 10 years of impact in promoting peace and prosperity in the MENA region and unlocking the human potential of the region. The center also launches its inaugural Rafik Hariri Awards to celebrate exceptional figures in Arts, social entrepreneurship, and business. 

Upcoming events

Public Event Thu, April 25, 2024 • 1:00 pm ET

AI revolution: Transforming the global business landscape
Economy & Business Middle East Technology & Innovation
Public Event Thu, April 25, 2024 • 3:30 pm ET

Arab women ambassadors shaping diplomacy: Challenges and opportunities
Economy & Business Politics & Diplomacy Women

Past events

Online Event Wed, February 21, 2024 • 10:00 am ET

The potential of AI-driven business solutions on the SME industry in the UAE
Economy & Business Future of Work Inclusive Growth Middle East
Online Event Wed, February 7, 2024 • 10:00 am ET

Beyond the Start-Up: Navigating scalability for Bahraini women entrepreneurs
Economy & Business Middle East Technology & Innovation Women
Online Event Mon, January 29, 2024 • 11:00 am ET

Digital transformation in Saudi Arabia and its impact on women
Economy & Business Middle East Technology & Innovation Women
Online Event Tue, January 23, 2024 • 12:00 pm ET

Postponed: Serving communities with disability in conflict
Civil Society Conflict Crisis Management Human Rights
Online Event Tue, December 12, 2023 • 11:00 am ET

Demystifying venture capital
Economy & Business Middle East Technology & Innovation Women
Public Event Sat, December 9, 2023 • 1:30 am ET

empowerME at COP28: The future of the green energy sectors in the Middle East, North, and Sub-Saharan Africa
Climate Change & Climate Action Energy & Environment Energy Transitions Middle East
Online Event Tue, November 28, 2023 • 1:00 am ET

Women in finance: Building a more sustainable and inclusive financial system
Economy & Business Entrepreneurship International Financial Institutions International Markets
Online Event Wed, November 1, 2023 • 11:00 am ET

The impact of fintech on women’s financial inclusion in Bahrain
Economy & Business International Financial Institutions Middle East Technology & Innovation
Online Event Wed, October 18, 2023 • 12:00 pm ET

Women’s economic participation and its impact on healthcare in Saudi Arabia
Economy & Business Middle East Women
Public Event Thu, September 28, 2023 • 12:20 pm ET

Addressing the captagon crisis in MENA: Strategies & challenges
Civil Society Corruption Economy & Business Freedom and Prosperity
Public Event Mon, September 18, 2023 • 9:00 am ET

New power dynamics in the MENA region after the Ukraine crisis
Online Event Tue, July 25, 2023 • 12:00 pm ET

The rising female workforce in Saudi Arabia and its impact on the private sector
Economy & Business Middle East Saudi Arabia Technology & Innovation
Online Event Mon, July 17, 2023 • 11:00 am ET

Venture funding in the UAE: Evaluating the gender gap and the role of women-specific programs
Economy & Business Middle East Technology & Innovation Women
Online Event Wed, July 12, 2023 • 11:00 am ET

Female leadership in Bahrain: Progress, potential, and sustainability
Economy & Business Middle East Technology & Innovation Women
Online Event Wed, April 19, 2023 • 2:00 pm ET

Insight from the field: The double crisis for Syrian earthquake survivors in Turkey
Civil Society Middle East Migration Resilience
Online Event Thu, April 13, 2023 • 2:00 pm ET

A conversation with the UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade H.E. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi
Public Event Thu, March 2, 2023 • 3:00 pm ET

Saudi Arabia’s new economic force: Women entrepreneurs
Economy & Business Middle East Saudi Arabia Women
Online Event Tue, February 7, 2023 • 9:00 am ET

Will 2023 be the year Israel joins the US Visa Waiver Program?
Economy & Business Politics & Diplomacy
Public Event Tue, January 24, 2023 • 10:00 am ET

Destigmatizing failure and promoting business risk through policies and culture
Online Event Mon, December 5, 2022 • 10:00 am ET

The impact of societal norms and structures on women’s economic empowerment in Saudi Arabia
Middle East
Online Event Thu, October 13, 2022 • 12:30 pm ET

A conversation with the Finance Minister of Jordan H.E. Mohamad Al-Ississ
Economy & Business Inclusive Growth International Markets Macroeconomics
Online Event Wed, October 12, 2022 • 10:30 am ET

A conversation with the Planning and Economic Development Minister of Egypt H.E. Hala H. Elsaid
Economy & Business Inclusive Growth International Markets Macroeconomics
Online Event Tue, October 4, 2022 • 11:00 am ET

The economic and social impact of climate change in the MENA region
Climate Change & Climate Action Energy & Environment Middle East Renewables & Advanced Energy
Public Event Thu, September 29, 2022 • 6:00 pm ET

Film screening and discussion: The Story Won’t Die
Human Rights Middle East
Online Event Wed, September 28, 2022 • 11:00 am ET

Regulations and laws in Saudi Arabia impacting women in business
Middle East
Online Event Wed, September 14, 2022 • 8:30 am ET

Report launch | Challenges in North Africa: New pathways for international diplomacy?
North & West Africa Politics & Diplomacy
Online Event Wed, September 7, 2022 • 11:00 am ET

Amman-Baghdad-Cairo (ABC) Agreement: A new path for economic integration
Economy & Business Energy & Environment International Markets Middle East
Online Event Tue, June 7, 2022 • 11:00 am ET

Balance of power: Promoting more women in leadership
Economy & Business Inclusive Growth Middle East Women
Online Event Tue, March 1, 2022 • 9:00 am ET

Inclusive finance in the MENA: How Fintech opens doors for the masses
Economy & Business Middle East
Online Event Mon, February 7, 2022 • 9:00 am ET

Developing ecosystems: How Middle East governments drive entrepreneurship
Economy & Business Middle East
Online Event Tue, December 14, 2021 • 9:00 am ET

MENA’s Fintech innovators: Digitizing financial services
Economy & Business Middle East
Online Event Tue, November 2, 2021 • 9:00 am ET

Women in senior management: Masterclass in leadership
Economy & Business Middle East Saudi Arabia
Online Event Wed, October 27, 2021 • 12:00 pm ET

Dispatch from the ground: An American in Kabul
Afghanistan Conflict Extremism Intelligence
Online Event Wed, October 13, 2021 • 9:00 am ET

Women in the global supply chain: The importance of increasing women’s access
Economy & Business Future of Work International Markets Middle East
Public Event Tue, September 14, 2021 • 9:00 am ET

Venture capital financing: How to increase funding for women-led ventures
Economy & Business Middle East Saudi Arabia
Online Event Fri, September 10, 2021 • 9:00 am ET

A special event with Afghanistan’s former Central Bank Governor, Ajmal Ahmady
Afghanistan Economy & Business International Financial Institutions Macroeconomics
Online Event Wed, July 14, 2021 • 9:00 am ET

Angel and Venture Capital Investments: How to become an Angel Investor or VC
Economy & Business Middle East The Gulf
Online Event Wed, June 23, 2021 • 9:00 am ET

Igniting women’s entrepreneurship and innovation in Saudi Arabia
Economy & Business Entrepreneurship Middle East Resilience & Society
Public Event Wed, March 31, 2021 • 10:00 am ET

Roundtable on IGNITING Women’s Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Saudi Arabia
Economy & Business Middle East Resilience & Society
Online Event Tue, March 16, 2021 • 9:00 am ET

Driving investment and entrepreneurship in the Middle East
Economy & Business Middle East
Online Event Wed, March 10, 2021 • 11:00 am ET

The Arab Spring: Precursor to the disinformation age?
Disinformation Middle East Political Reform
Online Event Wed, February 24, 2021 • 11:00 am ET

A conversation with US Acting Assistant Secretary Joey Hood on economic priorities in the Middle East
Middle East
Online Event Tue, February 9, 2021 • 8:00 am ET

Building a viable Middle East venture capital industry
Economy & Business Middle East
Online Event Thu, December 10, 2020 • 2:00 pm ET

50 years of the Assad dynasty
Corruption Europe & Eurasia Human Rights Middle East
Online Event Tue, November 24, 2020 • 1:15 pm ET

A conversation with Former US National Security Advisor Lt. General H.R. McMaster

AN #ACFRONTPAGE EVENT – Lt. General McMaster discussed the future of US strategy in an era of great power competition as well as US foreign policy in the Middle East.
Indo-Pacific Middle East
Online Event Tue, November 17, 2020 • 7:30 am ET

A conversation with Careem Co-Founder and CEO Mudassir Sheikha
Economy & Business Entrepreneurship Middle East Technology & Innovation
Public Event Mon, October 26, 2020 • 8:30 am ET

A conversation with Qatar Development Bank CEO Abdulaziz Bin Nasser Al Khalifa
Economy & Business Middle East
Public Event Thu, October 1, 2020 • 1:00 pm ET

Regional expansionism: Iran’s militias in the Levant
Iran Middle East Security & Defense Syria
Public Event Wed, September 16, 2020 • 3:00 pm ET

A conversation with H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Mari, UAE Minister of Economy
Economy & Business Israel Middle East Politics & Diplomacy
Public Event Tue, August 18, 2020 • 12:00 pm ET

The status of the fight against ISIS
Middle East Security & Defense Syria
Public Event Mon, July 13, 2020 • 9:30 am ET

COVID-19 in the Middle East: An opportunity to improve public health?
Coronavirus Middle East Resilience & Society
Public Event Wed, June 17, 2020 • 10:30 am ET

Assessing Saudi Vision 2030: A 2020 review
Economy & Business Middle East Saudi Arabia The Gulf
Public Event Thu, May 28, 2020 • 12:00 pm ET

A post-conflict Libya?
Conflict Crisis Management Libya North Africa
Public Event Tue, October 8, 2019 • 9:00 am ET

New strategic visions and power competition in the Middle East
International Norms Middle East Politics & Diplomacy Russia
Public Event Tue, October 1, 2019 • 2:00 pm ET

The struggle for inclusive citizenship in Arab countries
Middle East Political Reform
Mon, June 10, 2019 • 12:00 pm ET

The Middle East’s economic outlook
Economy & Business Entrepreneurship Inclusive Growth International Financial Institutions
Wed, June 5, 2019 • 12:00 pm ET

China’s changing role in the Middle East
China Middle East Politics & Diplomacy Security & Defense
Wed, March 27, 2019 • 12:00 pm ET

Environmental security in the Middle East
Climate Change & Climate Action Energy & Environment Iran Middle East
Mon, December 17, 2018 • 1:00 pm ET

The future of US policy in Syria
Conflict Defense Policy Disinformation Human Rights
Fri, April 15, 2016 • 12:00 pm ET

Freedom of Expression in Syria: A Discussion with Mazen Darwish
Corruption Human Rights Middle East Rule of Law

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