This past December, two students in the Master of Arts in Arab Studies (MAAS) program participated in the Doha Youth Forum, which was held in conjunction with the 2024 Doha Forum in Qatar. Alex White and Fatima Rahimi, both second-year candidates in the MAAS program, were hosted—along with five other students from across the United States—by the Gulf International Forum for the three-day program themed around “Innovation and Youth: Dialogue, Diplomacy, Diversity.” The forum featured workshops, debates, panel discussions, and networking events designed to foster dialogue and explore innovative approaches to pressing global challenges. Participants engaged in meaningful discussions on governance, technology, diplomacy, and other critical issues while also building connections with peers and experts from the Middle East. Following their special three-day program, the youth delegates attended the full Doha Forum.
“Over the course of a week, I engaged in thought-provoking discussions with participants from around the globe,” reported Alex White after the event. “The most interesting aspects, for me, were exploring the Gulf states’ ambitions to become leaders in AI and witnessing first hand reactions to regime change in Syria from H.E. Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani (Qatar’s Foreign Minister) and H.E. Sergey Lavrov (Russia’s Foreign Minister). This experience offered unique insights into the Gulf’s growing influence and Qatar’s role on the world stage. Crucially, local Karak tea hit the spot!”
Fatimah Rahimi, who is from Qatar, said she was honored to be selected for the Youth Forum, and that having the opportunity to share an experience in her home country with peers from Washington D.C. was particularly special. “Among the many compelling sessions, the one on ‘Shifting Arab Opinion and the Gaza War, resonated with me the most,” said Rahimi. “It was inspiring to witness a collective space for meaningful discussions on such a regionally resonant issue within the framework of a major international event. Another session that stands out was the talk featuring the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs, especially as it coincided with the historic fall of the Syrian Assad regime. Overall, being surrounded by leading policymakers, scholars, and activists at the Doha Forum was an experience that was both intellectually enriching and personally profound.”