Board of Trustees

Mr. Faisal Abbas holds a master's degree in Marketing Communications from the University of Westminster, U.K. He was selected as a member of the Young Global Leaders Society of the 2018 World Economic Forum.   He is also a member of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Association of British Authors (SoA), and an associate member of the Cambridge Union Society (CUS) in the UK. He has been the editor-in-chief of the English-language newspaper Arab News in Saudi Arabia since 2016.

Dr Abdul Khaleq Abdullah is a distinguished professor of political science from the United Arab Emirates. He earned his doctorate from Georgetown University in Washington and his master’s degree from the American University in Washington. Presently, he serves as a professor and visiting scholar at Harvard University. Dr Abdullah is actively engaged in various organisations, holding positions such as a member of the Executive Committee of the Gulf Development Forum, Mufakiru Al Emarat (Emirates Thinkers), and the Scientific Committee of the Journal of Social Sciences. His insightful perspectives have been disseminated through numerous articles published across esteemed media platforms.   Dr Abdul Khaleq Abdullah’s academic pursuits center on security dynamics and political evolutions in the Arabian Gulf. He also delves into contemporary Arab and international intellectual and political discourse. Dr Abdullah's extensive literary contributions have significantly influenced Arab perceptions, particularly regarding the UAE and the Arabian Gulf. Notable among his works is The Gulf Moment in Contemporary Arab History, initially published in 2019 and later translated into Korean in 2023. Harvard University subsequently reissued the book in English in 2024.   Additionally, his repertoire includes titles such as The Story of Politics, The Cultural Movement in the Emirates, The Gulf Regional System, Contemporary Gulf Issues, and The Contemporary World and International Conflicts. His latest publication, Confessions of a Retired Academic, along with My Journey to Harvard: Thoughts of an Emirati Academic, published in 2024, further enrich his academic legacy.

Dr. Eesa Mohammed Bastaki is the President of the University of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. He received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees  in Communications Engineering from the University of California, San Diego, and his PhD in Communications Engineering from the University of California, Irvine.   Dr. Bastaki worked in several educational and research institutions before assuming the presidency of the University of Dubai in 2018. His work focuses on promoting innovation and technological innovation at the University of Dubai, improving educational quality and promoting sustainable development in the region.   He is also Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Dubai Future Foundation and was awarded the Sheikh Rashid Award for Scientific Excellence in 2009, in addition to the highest awards in the UAE in the fields of science, arts and literature.

Dr. Ahmad S. Dallal is the current President of the American University of Cairo. Dr. Dallal is the former dean of Georgetown University in Qatar and served as provost at the American University of Beirut (AUB) from 2009 to 2015. A prominent scholar of Islamic studies, he has taught at AUB, Stanford University, Yale University, Smith College and Georgetown University, where he also served as chair of the Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies.

Dr. Mostafa El-Feki is an Egyptian diplomat and politician, he is the former Director of the Library of Alexandria. He held many positions in the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the most important of which was the position of Egypt’s Ambassador to Austria and its permanent representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna. Dr. Al-Feki was also an advisor to Egypt in New Delhi, and first assistant to the Egyptian Foreign Minister for Arab and Middle East Affairs, and a permanent representative of Egypt to the League of Arab States.   On the national front, Dr. Mostafa El-Feki held the position of Secretary to the President of the Republic for Information and Director of the Information and Follow-up Office of the Presidency of the Republic. In addition, he turned to parliamentary work. He held several positions, including Chairman of the Arab Affairs, Foreign Relations, and National Security Committee of the Shura Council, Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the People's Assembly, and Vice Chairman of the Freedom and Human Rights Committee.

Dr. Rafia Ghubash is the President of the Arab Network for Women in Science and Technology, a network to help women scientists achieve leadership positions to support women in science. Dr. Rafia served as President of the Arabian Gulf University in Bahrain from 2000 to 2009 and as the Dean of the College of Medicine and Health Services in the United Arab Emirates until 2001.   Dr. Rafia is a practicing psychiatrist and  received her PhD in Society and Epidemiological Psychiatry at the University of London. She has written extensively in psychiatry and received the Distinguished Physicians Award in 2004.

A prominent Egyptian journalist and media professional, he has held several senior journalistic positions, including Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper in Cairo and Head of the News Sector at Egyptian Television.

Dr. Paul Salem is prominent political analyst on Middle Eastern affairs and the Vice President for International Engagement at the Middle East Institute in Washington, D.C.   With extensive experience in policy research and regional affairs, he plays an active role in discussions on Middle Eastern issues. He previously held senior positions at the Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut and has published numerous works on Middle Eastern affairs.   His extensive media experience has established him as a leading political analyst on Middle Eastern affairs.