The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has mountains, beaches, coral reefs, grasslands, forests, all in addition to the largest sand sea in the world. Its human history can be traced back more than 7,000 years. Its land area is larger than some might imagine — Saudi Arabia is approximately the combined size of France, Spain, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom (twice), Greece, and Portugal. More than three times larger than the state of Texas, it is roughly equal in size to all the states east of the Mississippi River. Saudi Arabia is the 13th largest nation in terms of land area. The Kingdom is four times t ..read more

In the world of academia and foreign policy analysis, Dr. Fadi Hilani stands as a bridge between cultures, bringing together his expertise in linguistics, Middle East policy, and U.S. relations with the Arab countries. Appointed in 2023 as the Senior Academic and Research Fellow-in-Residence at the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations, Dr. Hilani continues to delve into critical issues shaping the Arab Gulf region, including most recently an analysis of the growth of esports in Saudi Arabia, and rethinking strategies of defense, security, and economics. Dr. Fadi Hilani Dr. Hilani’s divers ..read more

On February 8, 2024, the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations hosted a discussion titled “Looking Ahead: What to Expect in the Middle East in 2024.” The program featured former United States diplomats Ambassador (Ret.) Michael Gfoeller and Mr. David H. Rundell. It was moderated by Colonel (Ret.) Abbas K. Dahouk, with Mr. H. Delano Roosevelt, the President and CEO of the Council, joining them for the proceedings. The specialists provided analysis on the prospects of U.S. engagement with Iran and its proxies in the region after the recent deaths of three U.S. military service members in Jorda ..read more

On December 14, 2023, the Washington Center for Yemeni Studies and the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations hosted a discussion exploring the India-Middle East-EU trade route against the backdrop of regional conflicts and competing interests in the Bab al-Mandab Strait. The specialists addressed the potential impact of the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict on negotiations between the Houthi rebels and Saudi Arabia, and the growing Houthi threat to maritime security in the Red Sea. They delved into the potential impact of the recent development on the conflict in Yemen, and the prospects for las ..read more

Washington, DC Summer Internship Program June 3 – July 26, 2024 The National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations’ 2024 Washington, DC Summer Internship Program offers undergraduate and graduate students an eight-week professional, academic, and career opportunity internship with an organization in the nation’s capital. The program features a demanding mix of professional involvement, intellectual challenge, career exploration, and cross-cultural encounters designed to provide students with a rich and varied experience. Professional work experience: Students are placed with one of over a dozen Nea ..read more

The Washington Center for Yemeni Studies and the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations invite you to: Geopolitical Crossroads in Yemen: Unraveling Yemen’s Future Amidst Trade Routes and Conflict Tune in for a thought-provoking exploration of the India-Middle East-EU trade route and its potential impact on Yemen’s economy. Against the backdrop of the Israel-Hamas conflict and maritime threats in the Red Sea, specialists will delve into the regional competition over the Bab al-Mandab Strait, and the prospects for lasting peace and sustainable development. Speakers: Sami Hamdi, Managing Direc ..read more

On November 16, 2023, the National Council held a special evening celebration of the 40th anniversary of its establishment as a Washington-based, non-profit, educational NGO. The program featured keynote remarks by HRH Prince Turki Al Faisal Al Saud. HRH Prince Turki Al Faisal Remarks: Transcript, Video ..read more

On the occasion of its 40th Anniversary Gala Celebration, the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations presented its PUBLIC SERVICE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD to H.E. Mohamed M. Abou El Enein, Deputy Speaker of the Egyptian Parliament and Chairman of Cleopatra Group ..read more

This is the story of a $20 billion disaster that did not happen. Last month, while the United Nations General Assembly was meeting in New York City, I attended some programming on the summit’s sidelines together with my colleagues from the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations. Among them were meetings to learn more about the ongoing conflict and crisis in Yemen. While the situation in Yemen remains dire after 8 years of war, there is a recent bright spot for proactive international efforts: the successful operation to offload oil from the decaying Safer storage tanker. This enormous underta ..read more

On September 26, 2023, National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations Board of Directors Member, former Senior Military Advisor to the U.S. Department of State, former U.S. Defense and Army Attaché to Saudi Arabia, and HyphenPoint LLC Founding Principal Colonel (Ret.) Abbas Dahouk took part in an online discussion about strategic ramifications for relations in the Gulf with reference to Dorra Gas Field and the the Khor Abdullah waterway. (Program in Arabic.)   ..read more