Zainab Qureshi

Zainab Qureshi holds a Master of Arts in International Studies from the American University of Sharjah. Her research centers on diaspora, community formation, and questions of belonging in the Gulf region. Her master’s thesis explored social belonging and identity formation among South Asian communities in the UAE, examining how migration contexts shape intra-group cohesion, generational identities, and transnational attachments. Her broader academic interests lie in diaspora studies, migration governance, and the relationship between state policy and lived experiences of migrant communities. Trained in mixed-methods research, including semi-structured interviews, survey design, and policy analysis, she approaches migration as both a political and social process that shapes collective identities. She previously interned at TRENDS Research & Advisory, focusing on diaspora politics and transnational governance.