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| Institute of International Affairs (AUS) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Institute of International Affairs (AUS) |
| Established | 1990 |
| Type | Research institute |
| City | Abu Dhabi |
| Country | United Arab Emirates |
| Affiliations | American University of Sharjah |
Institute of International Affairs (AUS) is a multidisciplinary research institute based at the American University of Sharjah (AUS) that focuses on regional and global issues involving the Persian Gulf, Arabian Peninsula, and wider Middle East. The institute engages with scholars, policymakers, and international organizations to analyze strategic developments, energy dynamics, security trends, and transnational challenges. Through conferences, publications, and policy briefs the institute seeks to inform decision-makers in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Riyadh, Doha, and capitals worldwide including Washington, London, Paris, and Brussels.
The institute was founded in 1990 within the academic ecosystem of the American University of Sharjah, emerging amid regional developments such as the Gulf War, the post-Cold War order shaped by the United Nations and the Ottoman Empire’s legacy in the Middle East. Early collaborations involved scholars associated with institutions like the Brookings Institution, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and the Council on Foreign Relations, reflecting transatlantic networks. During the 1990s and 2000s the institute expanded its profile through linkages with the Arab League, the Gulf Cooperation Council, and research centers at the University of Oxford and Harvard University. Key initiatives paralleled regional events—such as the Iraq War (2003) and the Arab Spring—that shaped its research agenda and partnerships with entities including the European Union, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank.
The institute’s mission aligns with higher education goals at AUS and with international norms promoted by organizations like the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the United Nations Development Programme. Its stated objectives include building capacity for policy analysis relevant to the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the State of Qatar, and neighboring states, producing evidence to inform debates hosted by forums such as the World Economic Forum and the Munich Security Conference. The institute aims to foster dialogue among stakeholders from institutions including the U.S. Department of State, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (UAE), and think tanks like the Chatham House and the Middle East Institute.
Governance is structured through an advisory board and academic leadership linked to AUS faculties such as the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Business. The advisory board features academics and practitioners with experience at the International Crisis Group, the United Nations Security Council, the European Council on Foreign Relations, and national ministries including the Ministry of Defence (UK) and the Department of Defense (United States). Administrative oversight coordinates with AUS offices like the Office of the President and the Office of Research, while academic appointments draw on networks at the University of Cambridge, the London School of Economics, and the Johns Hopkins University.
The institute conducts research streams covering geopolitics, energy security, maritime affairs, and human security, engaging with subjects such as the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Red Sea. Project partnerships have linked the institute with the International Maritime Organization, the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, and the International Energy Agency. Research themes include analyses of bilateral relations involving the United States, China, and Russia in the region, studies on migration linked to the International Organization for Migration, and assessments of climate impacts referenced against work by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Program formats include seminars modeled after the NATO Defence College curriculum, executive training comparable to programs at the Blavatnik School of Government, and fieldwork collaborations with the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington.
The institute publishes policy briefs, working papers, and edited volumes that have been cited by outlets and institutions such as Al Jazeera, the New York Times, the Financial Times, and policy units within the European Commission and the U.S. Congress. Its outputs inform consultations with entities including the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, the Qatar Financial Centre, and the Dubai Future Foundation. Peer-reviewed articles by affiliated scholars have appeared in journals associated with the American Political Science Association, the International Studies Association, and publishers like Cambridge University Press and Oxford University Press.
The institute maintains partnerships with universities and centers including the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, the University of Pennsylvania, the Sciences Po, and the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Memoranda of understanding and joint events have involved the Arab Center Washington DC, the Institut français des relations internationales, and the Bundesakademie für Sicherheitspolitik. Multilateral engagement includes cooperation with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and participation in regional dialogues convened by the Gulf Cooperation Council and the League of Arab States.
Located on the American University of Sharjah campus, the institute occupies seminar rooms, a dedicated research library, and digital archives compatible with standards promoted by the Library of Congress and the Open Archives Initiative. Facilities support conferences that host delegations from the Embassy of the United States, Abu Dhabi, the Embassy of the United Kingdom, Abu Dhabi, and missions from the European Union Delegation to the UAE. The campus infrastructure interfaces with AUS laboratories and the university’s centers such as the Center for Gulf Studies and the Center for Global Business.
Category:Research institutes in the United Arab Emirates