The 1st Annual Conference on “New Regionalism in the Middle East” took place in Abu Dhabi, UAE, from June 18 to 20, 2023, and brought together researchers and professionals from the Gulf, Israel, and across the region, who collectively assessed the progress and setbacks, identified metrics, and set milestones for a regional cooperation agenda. This dialogue was co-organized by the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy (AGDA), TRENDS Research & Advisory, B’huth (Dubai Public Policy Research Centre), the Emirates Policy Center (EPC), all from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and African Studies (MDC) at Tel Aviv University, in Israel.
The workshop’s objective was to create a process of net assessment that evaluates the current state of regional cooperation.1 It also sought to leverage the current momentum around regional diplomatic reconciliation and create a unique annual net-assessment forum, using a Track II format for engagement. To facilitate dialogue and exchange ideas within the framework of assessing the state of regional cooperation, a separate working group was assigned for each theme. The purpose of the working groups was to collectively brainstorm how to measure and assess the progress, development, and challenges of regional cooperation. The ultimate goal was to establish mutually acceptable indicators and benchmarks for an annual evaluation process. This net-assessment report presents the preliminary outcomes of this groundbreaking dialogue.
