Middle East

FinTech in MENA: How to build an ecosystem that promotes innovation and regulation

By Stefanie Hausheer Ali

The Atlantic Council’s empowerME Initiative in partnership with ABANA is convening a virtual event series to shed light on the changing FinTech landscape in the MENA region, identify challenges and opportunities, and explore policy recommendations.

What does Russia get out of Iran’s membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization?

By Li-Chen Sim and Nicole Grajewski

Russia and Iran’s acrimonious relationship with the United States has brought the countries closer together.

Iran’s drones are a buzzing menace for Saudi Arabia

By Ilan Zalayat

The small but sophisticated Iranian-made armed drones have undercut the security balance in the Gulf region and the Arabian Peninsula over the past few years, ushering in a novel asymmetrical menace.

Iranians give ‘Squid Game’ the green light

By Holly Dagres

With "Squid Game" becoming a global phenomenon, it’s no surprise that it’s also gaining popularity in Iran. But the Iranian fascination with the show comes at a time when Iran and South Korea are having their own drama.

Ahmad in The Wall Street Journal: How Pakistan won in Afghanistan

"For decades Islamabad played a double game, hosting the Taliban while posing as a US partner," writes Javid Ahmad in the Wall Street Journal.

North Africa 2030: What the future holds for the region

By Frederick Kempe, Giampiero Massolo, Yahia Zoubir, Abdelkader Abderrahmane, Pietro Gagliardi, Guillaume Biganzoli, Aldo Liga, Nader Kabbani, Nejla Ben Mimoune, Hannah Abdullah, Karim Elgendy, Shlomo Roiter Jesner, Jay Mens, Armando Sanguini, Karim Mezran, and Alissa Pavia

In the last decade, several events redefined North Africa’s heterogeneous character and identity. This year marks the tenth anniversary of the beginning of the Arab spring, but most of the root causes fueling the unrest remain unaddressed.