Board of Trustees

Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor is a prominent and highly respected citizen of the United Arab Emirates. A self-made man, he is Chairman of the Al Habtoor Group – one of the most successful conglomerates in the Gulf.   Al Habtoor is known not only for his many business achievements but also his extensive knowledge of international political affairs; his philanthropic activities; his efforts to promote peace; and the fact that he has long acted as an unofficial ambassador for his country abroad. Writing extensively on both local and international politics, he publishes regular articles in the media and has released a number of books.   Al Habtoor began his career as an employee of a local UAE construction firm and in 1970 established his own company, Al Habtoor Engineering. The UAE Federation, which united the seven emirates under one flag for the first time, was founded in 1971 and this inspired him to undertake a series of innovative construction projects – all of which proved highly successful.   The company later became the Al Habtoor Group and for over 45 years it has grown with the United Arab Emirates. Today, it is recognised as one of the most prominent business corporations in the region with interests not just throughout the Middle East, but around the world.   What started out as a small engineering firm in 1970, is today one of the region’s largest and most respected conglomerates with interests in the hospitality, automotive, car leasing, real estate, education and publishing sectors. The Group employs thousands of people and continues to grow. For more information on the Al Habtoor Group, visit www.habtoor.com   Khalaf Al Habtoor’s long list of awards and achievements does not only reflect his business acumen. He believes it is his strength in the face of adversity; his willingness to take calculated risks; and the fact that he is always looking ahead, that has enabled the Al Habtoor Group to grow and diversify.   Known for his optimistic outlook and warm personality, Al Habtoor is well respected by his associates and considered a well-balanced and progressive man. An active member of society, he feels it is his civic duty to contribute to his country in any way that he can. He is also a devoted family man who loves meeting new people; enjoys acquiring knowledge; and looks forward with pleasure to each new day.

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.