Fluctuating power dynamics shaping global politics has seen an increase in smaller, issue-based regional and intraregional alliances, signifying a shift from traditional alliance frameworks to more nuanced engagement. What do these smaller, more pragmatic pacts mean for broader cooperation on global challenges? Could these groups serve as a steppingstone for resolving gridlocks in multilateral organizations or do they pose challenges for the current rules-based order?

Given the current situation and dynamics in the region, all actors in the Middle East face the challenge of establishing accurate and timely facts on the rapidly changing situation in and around Gaza. Tensions run high, fueling fears of a spill-over of conflict. To counter this, intelligence cooperation can be a key factor in lifting the fog of war, increasing situational awareness, and preventing further escalation. This informal and confidential roundtable brings together high-level officials and leading think tank representatives to assess the possible contributions of the intelligence community to stabilizing the current – and future – security situation in the Middle East. The session seeks to address questions such as: Could an emerging community of interest, built by interested intelligence services, contribute to an informal early warning and crisis management structure in the region? And could such a community of interest provide a common situational and risk awareness that supports informed decision making by their respective governments?

At a time of heightened conflict and rising tension in the MENA region, the need for multilateral and inclusive dialogue is more important than ever. This session will bring together influential perspectives from both inside and outside the region to consider broad issues such as the prospects for diplomacy and conflict resolution, nonproliferation, infrastructure development, and economic development.

In the digital age, artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed industries, but with its growth comes pressing concerns about data privacy. The need for data to fuel the technology increases the risk of misuse without guiding principles and boundaries. What are the challenges and strategies of ensuring privacy within AI systems, exploring both technical safeguards and ethical considerations? This panel will explore the best practices and forward-thinking approaches for the private and public sectors to maintain trust in the AI-driven era.

The Gulf and Europe find themselves in a changing geopolitical order. While some states look with reluctance on what they frame as a great power rivalry, others embrace it as a multipolar shift offering opportunities to diversify partnerships. What binds both sides together is an interest, as middle powers, to strengthen international and multilateral institutions as the global political system becomes more volatile. In a plethora of complementary, competing, overlapping or diverging institutions: How can multipolarity be translated into multilateral institutions that provide more stability in times of crises? 

The session will include the Global Launch of the 2023 Future Readiness Economic Index, a special report commissioned by Google and produced by  Descartes Institute in cooperation with the Communications Regulatory Authority of the State of Qatar. Key results and rankings of the report will be presented alongside a discussion by key stakeholders in digital transformations.

This panel discussion will explore the pivotal role vaccines and their innovation play in fortifying healthcare systems as well as delve into the multifaceted aspects of vaccine development and the importance of ensuring their efficient and equitable distribution. These efforts are integral to bolstering the resilience and adaptability of healthcare infrastructures, not only on a national scale but also in the context of global health challenges. Leading voices in public health policy will shed light on lessons learned from COVID-19 and future plans for addressing health emergencies and pandemics.

Environmental action is a distant priority for many governments of fragile states, which are often vulnerable to climate change yet have limited capacity to advance climate goals. International actors are also hesitant to invest in sustainable solutions where conflict, fragility and weakened governance persists. But energy innovations and new technology are allowing for feasible, small-scale solutions that not only advance climate goals, but also bolster civil infrastructure, accelerating economic development and peacebuilding efforts. So how can we reframe the approach to energy security and sustainability for more stable societies?

Prior to the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 and the ensuing Gaza invasion, regional diplomacy was experiencing an upswing. Almost all regional countries were active participants in the process of regional de-escalation and normalization. The talk of a new and more cooperative era in regional politics was almost ubiquitous. However, as the war has illustrated, this process was and is fragile and reversible. Indeed, the regional reset remains an unfinished project. The Middle East was and is yet to define what comes after the de- escalation and normalization phases of recent years. As a watershed moment, the war will have a major impact on the dynamics of escalation and de-escalation in regional affairs. Premised on a special dossier,the Middle East's Fragile Reset: Actors, Battlegrounds, and (Dis)order, this panel aims to address the following questions: 

1. What future awaits the process of regional reset of recent years in the Middle East?

2. What is the prospect for the idea of regional cooperation, multilateralims or minilateralism?

3. How does the interaction between the regional reset, Palestinian - Israeli conflict and the Palestinian question likely to evolve in the new period?

4. How do the regional reset and the war change the place of external powers in regional politics?

5. What is the way out of the current abyss?