Ebtesam Al-Ketbi

Dr. Ebtesam Al-Ketbi is a political scientist who founded and presides over The Emirates Policy Center think tank.

Professional career and achievements Dr. Al-Ketbi has worked for two decades in the analysis and strategic recommendations on regional and global affairs. Her most notable achievement is her role as the founder and president of The Emirates Policy Center (EPC), she is the first Arab woman to lead a think tank

EPC is a highly regarded think tank Under Dr. Al-Ketbi's leadership, EPC has been consistently ranked as one of the top think tanks in the Middle East and North Africa region according to the Global Think Tank Index Report (TTCP) published by the University of Pennsylvania, and its annual Abu Dhabi Strategic Debate (ADSD) has become a primary platform for global dialogue on regional and international security. ADSD is ranked among the world’s top ten conferences. The Global Advisory Board of the Observer Research Foundation in India, Arabian Peninsula Affairs Advisory Council of the Middle East Institute in Washington, and The International Advisory Board of the Italian Med-Or Foundation.

In 2015, Al-Ketbi was appointed as a member of The Consultative Commission of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), She has also received The Women Super Achiever Award at the World Women Leadership Congress in Mumbai, India, in 2019, and The Arab Social Media Influencers Award in the Politics category by the Dubai Press Club in 2018. In 2021, she was named Advisor to the Global Commission for Post-Pandemic Policy for her distinguished research on the comprehensive consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic on the world and the Middle East,

Dr. Al-Ketbi is a frequent speaker, participant, and guest at international conferences such as Munich Security Conference in Germany, Manama Dialogue in Bahrain, ISPI - Italian Institute for International Political Studies, Raisina Dialogue by Observer Research Foundation New Delhi in India, GLOBSEC Bratislava Forum in Bratislava, and Delphi Economic Forum in Greece Dr. Al-Ketbi is a regular commentator on regional and international television networks and is regarded as one of the experts in the field of international politics and policy.

Education and academic career Dr. Ebtesam Al-Ketbi holds a Ph.D. in political science from Cairo University. with a thesis entitled "The Political Implications of the Rentier State in the Gulf". She has authored academic works on topics such as Gulf security, US-GCC relations, The Peace process in the Middle East, and the War on Terrorism. Some examples of her published papers and articles include:

Contemporary Shifts in UAE Foreign Policy: From the Liberation of Kuwait to the Abraham Accords Biden in the Middle East: Opportunities and Challenges The Global Community and the War on Terrorism: Threat or Opportunity? Democratic Transformations in GCC Countries Building an Arab-Israel Bloc: Can It Compensate for a Reluctant Washington? Emirati-Israeli Peace Agreement: Could it be a Game-Changer?" The UAE-Israel Breakthrough: Bilateral and Regional Implications and U.S. Policy The Security Dimensions of Military Relations Between GCC countries and the USA The Gulf's voice must be heard in Iran negotiations.

Publications

In addition to her research papers, Dr. Al-Ketbi has recently published three books, including: The UAE Power Building Model: Mohamed bin Zayed's Vision (2022). The UAE Power-Building Model and Foreign Policy Shifts (2021). Iran and the Biden Administration: A Potential Return to Negotiations(2021).