Policy Recommendations Delivered to Middle East Leaders on Reconfiguring the Arab Region

24 February 2016, Abu Dhabi, UAE – Comprehensive policy recommendations announced this week have been delivered to high ranking Middle East leaders. The report, entitled ‘Reconfiguring the Arab region and its global space beyond political economy and security threats’, was derived from the deliberations at Beirut Institute Summit, held in Abu Dhabi in late 2015. UAE Cabinet Member, Minister of Community Development, Her Excellency Najla bint Mohammed Al Awar, attended a high profile media lunch at which these topics were further discussed by the panelists and editors-in-chief from regional media outlets.

The policy recommendations reflect the innovative discussions of senior, regional and international policy makers and next generation leaders. The report represents a strategic roadmap for addressing several of the Middle East’s most pertinent challenges and harnessing its most promising opportunities. This five step plan focusses on stabilizing the security environment; accelerating Arab strategic alignment; unleashing transformative economic growth; strengthening societal cohesion; and, building regional security architecture.

At a press conference held to release the recommendations, Beirut Institute Summit Co-chair His Royal Highness Prince Turki Al Faisal said: “It is a reality in the Arab world that so far we have talked a lot, but not taken any action. Beirut Institute Summit aimed to help us move from talk to action. The recommendations that we have released are addressed to the Arab people, policy makers and business leaders. They are fundamentally forward looking, focused on creating the future we seek.”

Raghida Dergham, Founder and Executive Chairman, Beirut Institute added: “We must include and respect the stakeholders of the region in all of their remarkable diversity in creating a strategic plan for the future of the region. The recommendations were forged by a diverse group of brilliant regional and global minds.  This gives them great credibility and should allow them to gain the support of people across the region.”

Rudolph Lohmeyer, Director – Global Business Policy Council, A.T. Kearney emphasized: ”A key design principle underlying our policy recommendations in each area is a focus not on the symptoms, but rather on the root causes of the challenges we face.  In particular, there was strong consensus that unequal, undiversified and in some countries and sectors, stagnating economic growth is a key root cause of many of the most important challenges facing the region. At the same time, the emerging innovation-centered digital economy represents a vast opportunity for the region.”

Announced at the press conference was the confirmation that a second edition of Beirut Institute Summit will be held in Riyadh in October 2016, jointly with King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies.

Raghida Dergham added: “We are grateful for the support of His Royal Highness and our collaboration with King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies in the development of the next Beirut Institute Summit. We plan to build on what we have already developed in order to spur further dialogue and implementation of the recommendations shared with leaders this week.”