The Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR) has launched the second round of its EC-Global Roundtable program, bringing together a group of expert contributors to strengthen strategic dialogue and expand international research cooperation.
The EC-Global Roundtable program, includes research visits to official entities and think tanks in Germany and the United Kingdom, and will run until May 8, 2026.
Dr. Sultan Mohammed Al-Nuaimi, Director General of the ECSSR, emphasized that the EC-Global Roundtable program represents an institutional pathway to strengthening the Center’s global presence, expanding its network of partnerships with leading think tanks, and transforming dialogue into actionable knowledge that contributes to a deeper understanding of global challenges and transformations.
He further noted that the participation of a distinguished Emirati intellectual cohort, consisting of the Center’s expert contributors, adds qualitative value to these visits, reinforcing the ECSSR’s status, and consolidating its role in building impactful knowledge partnerships.
Lieutenant General Staff Pilot (Ret.) Rashad Al Saadi, Expert Contributor at the ECSSR, underscored the importance of EC-Global Roundtable as a platform for exchanging expertise with prestigious international institutions, noting that the program supports the production of strategic knowledge that contributes to policymaking and enhances future foresight and planning.
Dr. Habib Al Mulla, Expert Contributor at the ECSSR, explained that the second round of the EC-Global Roundtable program offers an important opportunity to deepen research collaboration and exchange knowledge with leading European think tanks. He noted that the initiative helps further establish knowledge partnerships and strengthens the UAE’s role as an active contributor to international discussions on key strategic issues.
Prof. Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, Expert Contributor at the ECSSR, emphasised that the second round of EC-Global Roundtable program builds on the achievements of the inaugural round that took place in February. He commended the ECSSR’s role in establishing high-quality dialogue with influential international institutions, reflecting the UAE’s strategic vision to bolster its knowledge-oriented role and expand its global partnerships.
Mohammed Baharoon, Director General of the Dubai Public Policy Research Centre (B’huth), participating in the ECSSR delegation, noted that the visits conducted by the ECSSR come at a time when the UAE and wider region have faced one of their most significant challenges, underscoring the need for consultation and the exchange of ideas on future requirements.
Commenting on the launch of the EC-Global Roundtable second round, Dr. Ebtesam Alteneiji, ECSSR Deputy Director General, said that this reflects the ECSSR’s approach to activating international partnerships and translating them into sustainable avenues for knowledge cooperation. This, she added, enhances expertise-sharing, enriches research output, and supports the ECSSR’s presence within the global think tank community.
EC-Global Roundtable in Germany
In Berlin, the ECSSR delegation will visit the German Parliament for a series of discussion sessions, alongside meetings with members of the Committees on Foreign Affairs and on Trade and Economic Affairs. The agenda also includes engagements with the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES), as well as a visit to the UAE Embassy in Berlin.
EC-Global Roundtable in London
The tour will conclude in London with roundtable discussions and meetings with the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House) and the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), aimed at expanding research partnerships and exchanging perspectives on issues of mutual interest.
The first edition of the EC-Global Roundtable Program was launched in February 2026 and included a visit to Italy, including the Center for Higher Defense Studies (CASD) in Rome. A series of discussion sessions were also held, addressing issues of mutual interest within a framework of exchanging perspectives and building international research partnerships.
