From the region and in touch with the region….
The Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf region has been my field of expertise for the last 20 years. I was born in Cairo where I lived, studied and worked until the age of 25. For professional reasons, I then moved to Jordan and Lebanon for several years, followed by numerous short-term working stays in Tunisia, Morocco, Jordan, Syria, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
Most recently, I served as Head of the Middle East and North Africa Program at the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) in Berlin, a position I held for nine years.
The region is facing immense challenges, and the key to meeting those challenges lies with the people living there. I believe it to be essential to help committed and courageous local actors develop their potential while learning from them and joining forces with them to find the right answers.
As I grew up in the region, I can offer first-hand professional expertise combined with an intimate knowledge of many societal dynamics and extensive local networks. My native Arabic enables me to reach out to people at a deeper level.
Success is built on joint efforts…
Why I care so deeply about international cooperation: We will only be able to find successful and lasting solutions for the enormous challenges of our time, if we work across disciplines, bringing together politics, civil society, academia, and business. This is the only way we can create effective policies.
Germany, which I equally consider my home, is a formidable and powerful country that has supported the region for decades. Adapting German and European policy approaches to local needs increases their effectiveness and sustainability. As someone with an experience of both sides, I am glad to offer my advice and assistance.
