Eight days before Hamas launched its deadly attack on Israel, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, in an article written for The Atlantic, described the Middle East as “quieter” than it had been in two decades. This statement has now been shredded. The final lecture of the ME101 series will draw on the findings of previous lessons to offer a regional assessment of the political and economic environment of the Middle East.  Specifically, we will consider the prospects for regional stability, looking at the main risks (political, security, economic, social) faced by the countries in the area.

Between 1977 and 1983, the first phase of Singapore’s Mosque Building Fund (MBF) played a pivotal role in shaping the architectural and social evolution of local mosques. The MBF exemplifies the state’s pragmatic governance and approach to secularism, balancing religious autonomy with social cohesion and urban development. Mosque construction during this period emerged from a collaborative process involving the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS), the Housing Development Board (HDB), and the Mosque Building Committee (JPM), ensuring mosque designs balanced religious needs with urban planning goals.

Local mosque architecture reflects regional styles and cultural influences, with distinct Southeast Asian elements. Despite these design differences, the spiritual essence remains unified within the global umma (Muslim community). Traditional elements — such as domes, minarets, and arches — were reinterpreted through modernist ideas. These shifts align religious spaces with Singapore’s urban development goals, while preserving Islamic identity within a multicultural context.

The MBF mosques — such as Masjid Muhajirin (1977), Masjid Assyakirin (1978), and Masjid An-Nur (1980) — illustrate how these buildings evolved into multi-functional spaces. They serve not only as places of worship, but also as community hubs that accommodate education and social activities. This evolution reflects Singapore’s unique approach to balancing religious expression with secular governance to foster social cohesion.

The US’s failed intervention in Afghanistan

The question of what caused America’s Afghanistan debacle or, in other words, where the US, backed by NATO and non-NATO allies, went wrong, has been widely debated from varying perspectives. However, there has not been an insightful and coherent expose of what led the US to move from its initial ‘light footprint’ approach to a ‘heavy footprint’ one, which trapped the US in the complex task of state-building in a country that traditionally lacked the necessary foundations for statehood. The move marked a turning point in entangling the US in a long and unwinnable war and therefore ultimate defeat.

Drawing on his book How to Lose a War, Prof Saikal will address critically the key factors that contributed to the US failures and narrate the important lessons learned from America’s Afghanistan experience.

Azerbaijan will host the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in November 2024. The conference will pick up where COP28 left off: The completion of the first global stocktake, the consensus to “transition away” from fossil fuels, and agreements for a massive expansion of clean energy, among others.

While COP meetings have made significant strides in forging consensus in major areas — mitigation, adaptation, and finance — the pace of implementation is too slow to address the urgent challenges posed by climate change.

This webinar, hosted in collaboration with the UAE Embassy in Singapore, aims to discuss the key outcomes of COP 28, expectations for COP 29, and whether it will further advance the UAE-led consensus on finance and fossil fuels. It also aims to shed light on the persistent gap between COP outcomes and their implementation. Featuring examples from Singapore and the UAE, it will explore how countries can benefit from multilateral platforms to translate international climate agreements into meaningful national policies.

Throughout history, the Middle East has been at the forefront of global change, engaging with the West through crusades, wars, colonialism, and terrorism. Beyond these familiar narratives lies a region undergoing profound economic transformation, cultural evolution, and facing pressing environmental challenges. This lecture series will examine these key aspects and drivers of change, with an emphasis on how these transformations impact regional stability and present significant economic opportunities, particularly for Singapore’s strategic interests.

This year, we are excited to introduce a new format for the ME 101 series in collaboration with the SUSS DBA Alumni Graduate Student Community (DBAC) and the SUSS School of Business. The series is specifically designed for top business leaders and professionals who are interested in exploring the economic potential that the Middle East holds.

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Session 5:

With an eye on a future beyond oil, the Gulf countries are marching ahead with an ambitious domestic transition to renewable energy. From investing in renewables, nuclear, hydrogen, electric vehicles, and carbon capture to climate diplomacy, and hosting world’s major international climate meetings such as COP 28 in the UAE), Gulf countries  aspire to secure their position as leaders in both clean energy, as well as transition the oil and gas industry in the evolving energy landscape. This lecture delves into ambitious plans to become global leaders in the new energy

Throughout history, the Middle East has been at the forefront of global change, engaging with the West through crusades, wars, colonialism, and terrorism. Beyond these familiar narratives lies a region undergoing profound economic transformation, cultural evolution, and facing pressing environmental challenges. This lecture series will examine these key aspects and drivers of change, with an emphasis on how these transformations impact regional stability and present significant economic opportunities, particularly for Singapore’s strategic interests.

This series is specifically designed for top business leaders and professionals who are interested in exploring the economic potential that the Middle East holds.

Session 3:

In 2016, Saudi Arabia launched its Vision 2030, which is aimed at economic diversification, and social development. After decades of dormancy, the pursuit of this vision has shifted Saudi Arabia from a conservative society towards a somewhat more liberal and open society, emerging as a giant economic force in the region. From the abolition of a longstanding law that prevented women from driving to promoting entertainment, tourism, high-tech and AI sectors, and hosting international events in sport, business and entertainment, this lecture will discuss these state-led economic, social, cultural, legal, and religious transformations. The lecture will also assess the progress and challenges encountered in this transformative process, eight years since its launch. Finally, it will examine the geopolitical ramifications of the Kingdom’s pursuit of its 2030 economic goals.

Across the MENA region, environmental challenges are rising, but the six Gulf Arab states—Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and Bahrain—are feeling the impact the most. With economies built on oil and gas, they’re now on the frontlines of climate change.

COP28 in Dubai last year called for urgent action, but what are Gulf countries actually doing? How are they tackling climate risks while trying to diversify their economies?

• A deep dive into Gulf states' energy commitments and net-zero policies

MEI in collaboration with the SUSS DBA Alumni Graduate Student Community (DBAC) and the SUSS School of Business

Throughout history, the Middle East has been at the forefront of global change, engaging with the West through crusades, wars, colonialism, and terrorism. Beyond these familiar narratives lies a region undergoing profound economic transformation, cultural evolution, and facing pressing environmental challenges. This lecture series will examine these key aspects and drivers of change, with an emphasis on how these transformations impact regional stability and present significant economic opportunities, particularly for Singapore’s strategic interests.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has embarked on a series of reforms in order to position itself as an oasis of tolerance and an attractive destination for foreign talent and investors. Notable changes include advocating religious tolerance and a respect for personal faiths. These make up an overhaul of the personal and family laws, which now allow cohabitation between unmarried couples, and dangling citizenships to selected foreigners. Such moves constitute an awareness by the Emirati leadership that it will have to act swiftly to stay ahead of neighbouring competitors such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar if it wishes to become the top talent destination. But social questions persist

MEI in collaboration with the SUSS DBA Alumni Graduate Student Community (DBAC) and the SUSS School of Business

Throughout history, the Middle East has been at the forefront of global change, engaging with the West through crusades, wars, colonialism, and terrorism. Beyond these familiar narratives lies a region undergoing profound economic transformation, cultural evolution, and facing pressing environmental challenges. This lecture series will examine these key aspects and drivers of change, with an emphasis on how these transformations impact regional stability and present significant economic opportunities, particularly for Singapore’s strategic interests.

This year, we are excited to introduce a new format for the ME 101 series in collaboration with the SUSS DBA Alumni Graduate Student Community (DBAC) and the SUSS School of Business. The series is specifically designed for top business leaders and professionals who are interested in exploring the economic potential that the Middle East holds.

The opening lecture addresses the socio-economic changes in the Gulf Arab states, why Singapore is interested in these transformations, and the extent to which the oil monarchies have diversified their economies. Intertwined  with economic ambitions are social policies which aim to create appealing living and work environments for expatriates. Profiling on the global stage also constitutes a foreign policy goal, whether it is through the hosting of mega-events, or through investments in sport. More than weaning themselves off oil and gas, the Gulf leaderships are also diversifying their international partnerships, turning away from the West and looking elsewhere, particularly

Iran’s new president, Masoud Pezeshkian, is deemed a reformist whose “balanced” foreign policy approach may be the answer to Iran’s complex international relations, including ongoing tensions with the West, the Israel-Gaza conflict, and uranium enrichment concerns. While he has been endorsed by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, any West-ward overture by Mr Pezeshkian will require the Supreme Leader’s assent. Tehran’s relations with Russia and China will also complicate any talk about sanctions relief, with a new US administration looming in the background.

Mr Pezeshkian’s presidency should also be measured against the backdrop of public sentiment. The backdrop of a low voter turnout, widespread discontent over Iran’s economic malaise, and recent crackdowns on dissent, pose significant domestic challenges.

What do the recent presidential elections results say about the regime’s legitimacy? What are the implications for succession planning for a new Supreme Leader? Can Mr Pezeshkian’s pragmatic approach improve Iran’s economy while navigating complex international relationships? The Middle East Institute will host a panel of experts to examine the significance of Mr Pezeshkian’s victory, and his vision for Iran’s domestic and foreign policy landscape.