Arab Think Tanks explore how to enhance the Arab joint intellectual dialogue regarding the issues of digital transformation and Artificial Intelligence.

Minister Plenipotentiary Alaa El Tamimi: The meeting is an Arab intellectual platform aimed at enhancing research efficiency and elevating the quality of Arab decision-making.
Head of Al Arab Center: We participated with four research papers covering all axes of the meeting, all of which aim at clarifying the image of the Arab researcher.
The books of Alshorafa Elhamadi enlightened the Book Fair held on the sidelines of the meeting, where twenty books were presented to the Arab Library.

Hadil Fathy Omar
Translated by: Heba Mohamed Masoud

Amid the rapid technological transformations that the world is witnessing today, the digital revolution and applications of Artificial Intelligence have become major factors in shaping the policies of countries and their institutions, including think tanks and research centers.

From this perspective, the Arab League General Secretariat hosted, on the 23rd and 24th of November 2025, the third annual meeting of think tanks in the Arab Countries under the slogan: “The Role of Think Tanks in Employing Artificial Intelligence to Enhance Enlightened Decision-Making.” This took place under the supervision of His Excellency Minister Plenipotentiary Alaa El Tamimi, Director of the Department of Research and Strategic Studies at the League of Arab States.

His Excellency affirmed that this meeting forms a pioneering Arab intellectual platform bringing together researchers, decision-makers, and specialized experts in the fields of Artificial Intelligence and strategic analysis. The purpose is to enhance research efficiency and raise the quality of Arab decision-making in light of regional and international challenges.

In his inaugural speech, he noted that the third meeting represents a natural extension of the path launched in 2023 as part of “The Arab Network of Think Tanks,” which aims at unifying efforts among Arab think tanks and activating joint research cooperation to link knowledge with policymaking and formulate strategic solutions based on objective scientific analysis.

He emphasized that this event underlines the necessity of employing Artificial Intelligence tools and techniques within the work system of think tanks—not merely as technological tools, but as effective components in analysis, strategic thinking, and future outlook. This allows think tanks to present accurate and enlightening visions to Arab decision-makers.

The importance of the meeting is also rooted in the regional and international context, which is witnessing profound transformations in the fields of economy, politics, and security. Artificial Intelligence has thus become a pivotal instrument supporting scientific research, trend analysis, crisis forecasting, and policy formulation.

The meeting provided a unique opportunity to discuss the challenges associated with using AI techniques, including ethical issues, data governance, algorithm reliability, and individual privacy. It was emphasized that these tools must support researchers and decision-makers—not replace them.

In this context, the third annual meeting of think tanks raised several analytical questions about the reality of research and decision-making in the Arab world, and the possibility of employing Artificial Intelligence effectively and responsibly.

While these technologies offer unprecedented opportunities to enhance analytical accuracy and rapid crisis response, they also impose challenges related to ethics, data governance, and ensuring the reliability of results. This necessitates clear and organized frameworks, as well as developing the capacities of think tanks to be better prepared for the digital future.

The meeting highlighted that cooperation among Arab centers is not limited to exchanging experiences; rather, it constitutes a necessary strategy for building a joint Arab vision capable of merging technological innovation with deep academic research. Such integration strengthens the support offered to the Arab decision-maker with objective and data-driven insights. It also reflects a qualitative evolution in the role of think tanks—from mere research entities to cognitive and strategic instruments influencing the policies of the future.

The Meeting of Think Tanks and Its Goals

The third annual meeting of think tanks in Arab countries, supervised by Minister Plenipotentiary His Excellency Alaa El Tamimi, Director of the Department of Research and Strategic Studies at the League of Arab States, is a natural continuation of the path launched in 2023 with the establishment of “The Arab Network of Think Tanks,” which aims at enhancing cooperation among Arab centers and exchanging research and cognitive expertise.

The networking framework established a common base for interaction between researchers and decision-makers, contributing to unifying efforts, developing analytical tools, and providing an intellectual platform capable of addressing regional and international issues with a strategic, data-driven vision.

The meeting represents an attempt in the Arab world to keep pace with accelerated technological transformations, particularly in the field of Artificial Intelligence, which has become one of the pivotal elements in shaping public policies, monitoring economic and political developments, analyzing future trends, and predicting global shifts.

The meeting mainly aims at enabling think tanks to become effective cognitive and strategic instruments serving Arab decision-makers by employing Artificial Intelligence techniques in research and analysis.

The slogan “The Role of Think Tanks in Employing Artificial Intelligence to Enhance Enlightened Decision-Making” reflects the growing interest in applying new technologies to the formulation of public policies. It emphasizes that Artificial Intelligence is not an alternative to humans; rather, it is a supportive tool that expands the capabilities of researchers in analysis, strategic thinking, and future forecasting.

Participants stressed that effective integration between advanced statistical analysis, smart algorithms, and predictive models can enhance the accuracy of research recommendations and strengthen the credibility of scientific outputs before decision-makers—especially amid the vast amounts of data produced in the digital era.

The meeting administration identified several main axes representing a comprehensive roadmap for developing think-tank work during the digital revolution. Some of these axes focused on enhancing the benefit of Artificial Intelligence in research and analysis by identifying tools, techniques, and available opportunities, including processing huge data, analyzing social networks, and using AI in forecasting future trends.

During the first day’s events, Mohamed Fathy El-Sherif, President of the Arab Center for Research and Studies, spoke about the necessity of establishing regulations and organizational frameworks for the use of artificial intelligence in strategic opinion-making and scientific research, in a way that ensures keeping pace with technological developments.

During his speech within the session of think tanks and research, Elsherif clarified that the Center participates in the sessions of the conference with four research papers covering all the axes of the meeting. All of them are based on scientific and methodologically disciplined foundations that aim to clarify the picture for Arab research. This contributes to shaping a system with scientific and ethical foundations for the use of artificial intelligence in scientific research.

Al-Arab Center for Research and Studies participated with four research papers that discussed different dimensions of employing artificial intelligence in search and analysis, clarifying the scientific applications, opportunities, and challenges.

The first paper was presented by Mohamed Mohsen Ramadan. He addressed the new techniques of artificial intelligence and the digital changes related to the remarkable technological breakthrough the world is witnessing.

Dr. Mohamed Mohsen Ramadan highlighted the ability of AI to analyze a huge amount of data quickly and accurately, in addition to presenting models capable of predicting economic and political changes before they occur. However, he stressed the risks associated with excessive dependence on these technologies, such as programming biases and the loss of the human element in decision-making, affirming the necessity of developing organizational and ethical frameworks that guarantee the sustainable use of these tools.

The second paper was presented by researcher Abd Elghani Diab, the Editor-in-Chief of the Center. The paper focused on the use of artificial intelligence in foreseeing the future and enhancing rapid response in the Arab world.
The paper demonstrated how smart techniques can analyze media as well as social and political content to monitor early indicators of crises, whether in economic, social, or security fields.
It also addressed ways to improve research methodologies and produce reports by combining qualitative and quantitative analysis with AI tools, which allows for a comprehensive approach to critical issues and enhances the ability of think tanks to provide accurate and informed recommendations to Arab decision-makers.

The third paper, presented by researcher Mohamed Rabi’ Elsharkawy, Manager of the Studies of Combatting Extremism and Terrorism Unit, focused on the potential risks of depending on artificial intelligence in making strategic opinions.
Elsharkawy clarified that unregulated dependence on huge data sets and smart algorithms may lead to a regression in the researcher’s critical ability, misrepresentation of research recommendations, and an increased probability of spreading inaccurate or biased information.
He called for establishing clear rules for the use of artificial intelligence in research and for developing mechanisms of scientific review to guarantee the quality of outputs and ensure balance among speed, efficiency, and research accuracy.

The fourth paper, presented by Dr. Mostafa Shehata, Head of the Media Studies and Opinion-Making Unit, discussed the effect of artificial intelligence tools on public opinion. It showed how these tools can analyze public behavior and opinion trends with great speed, enabling think tanks to provide more accurate recommendations to guide general policies and monitor the impact of media and politicized initiatives on Arab societies.
Shehata also highlighted the importance of integrating artificial intelligence within an ethical framework that guarantees its use as a supporting tool to enhance human abilities instead of replacing humans or undervaluing their analytical role.

The Publications of Think Tanks Support Arab Knowledge

The exhibition of think tank publications accompanying the Third Annual Meeting of Think Tanks in the Arab Countries is considered an active cognitive platform that embodies the interaction between scientific research and contemporary thought. It highlights the strategic role of research institutions in spreading knowledge and enhancing Arab intellectual dialogue.

The exhibition provided participants with the opportunity to explore the diverse intellectual production of think tanks, including books, periodicals, and scientific journals. These publications contribute to widening awareness of distinguished research experiences and strengthening communication among researchers, decision-makers, and the public.

One of the most outstanding contributions to the exhibition was the participation of Al-Arab Center for Research and Studies, which presented more than 20 books, including the most prominent works of the Arab thinker Ali Mohamed Elshorafa Elhamadai, such as “Glimmerings on the Road,” “The Series of Historical Leadership,” and “Divorce Threatens the Security of Society,” in addition to publications on social and political thought such as “The Modern Social State – The UAE as a Sample” and “The Intellectual Genius of Sheikh Zayed.”
The publications also included Arabic and international editions of magazines such as Al-Arab Magazine for Research and Studies and Visions in several languages, reflecting the Center’s trend toward making Arab knowledge widely accessible to different readers and researchers.

The exhibition provided an opportunity to discuss the importance of intellectual dissemination in enhancing the capabilities of Arab research, as it enables decision-makers to learn from others’ experiences and draw inspiration from ideas and research methods. It also enables decision-makers to access the results of studies, fieldwork, and strategic research, which strengthens their ability to make decisions based on scientific knowledge and accurate analysis.

As a result, the exhibition does not merely represent a display of books and publications; rather, it is a scientific and intellectual tool for exchanging experiences and promoting a culture of research and analysis in the Arab region. It can be considered a bridge between intellectual thought and research practices, reflecting how think tanks can be employed in written knowledge to support the decision-making process, especially in light of digital transformations and complex challenges facing the Arab world.

The exhibition also demonstrates that investing in producing and spreading knowledge represents an integral part of the strategy for developing think tanks, which reinforces efforts to build an integrated Arab network for think tanks.
Another important aspect highlighted in the exhibition is the ability to interact with contemporary Arab issues such as political developments, social changes, combating extremism, and enhancing sustainable development. The participating publications helped create a shared knowledge base that allows researchers to access studies and analyses reflecting diverse experiences within Arab countries, which strengthens mutual understanding and encourages sustainable research cooperation.

The exhibition’s role is evident in consolidating a culture of trusted academic research, as displaying the publications within the Arab League platform provides an opportunity to reach a wide range of academics, researchers, and decision-makers.
This contributes to elevating Arab research and enhancing its credibility.

The interest of participants in the exhibition and the remarkable turnout for the publications reflect the appreciation of the research and intellectual community for the importance of these works in developing Arab thought and promoting a culture based on evidence and scientific analysis.

The exhibition of think tank publications represents an essential part of the system of work of the annual meeting. It is not only a display space but also a strategic tool to support knowledge, enhance the exchange of experiences, and expand the reach of research ideas to decision-makers and the public. This reflects the commitment of Arab think tanks to their pivotal role in building an enlightened Arab society capable of addressing future challenges, digital transformations, and enhancing decision-making based on knowledge and experience.