Save the Dates!
32nd Arab-U.S. Policymakers Conference
November 12 - 13, 2024
The Ronald Reagan Building International Trade Center
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004
Tuesday, November 12, 2024
5:30 – 6:45 P.M. --- Registration, Cocktail Reception & Entertainment by Maestro of the Oud, Mr. Muath Edriss and accompanying musicians. Exclusive Mawlawi Dance (Sufi Whirling Meditation) Performance by Mr. Khaled Al Mawlawi, Director and Founder of Zina Krupp Foundation for Sufi and Andalusian Production.
7:00 P.M. --- Welcoming Remarks & Recognition of Board, Special Guests, and Sponsors
Speaker:
Mr. H. Delano Roosevelt
President and CEO
National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations
7:10 P.M. --- Dinner Service Begins with a National Council Programs Video
7:20 P.M. --- Remarks by the National Council's Internship Program Dr. John Duke Anthony Award Recipient
Introduction:
Mr. H. Delano Roosevelt
President and CEO
National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations
Speaker:
Ms. Sarah Dodd
Award Recipient
Southern Nazarene University
Majoring in History, Minor in Theology
Class of 2025
8:15 P.M. --- Welcome and Introduction of Keynote Speaker
Introduction:
Mr. H. Delano Roosevelt
President and CEO
National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations
Speaker:
Dr. Abderrahim Foukara
Washington D.C. Bureau Chief, Al Jazeera and host of its flagship television program Min Washington [“From Washington”]
8:40 P.M. --- Addressing Global Humanitarian Challenges - The Work of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSRelief)
&
Presentation of the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relation's Global Humanitarian Achievement Award to the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSRelief)
Introduction:
Mr. H. Delano Roosevelt
President and CEO
National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations
Speaker/Award Recipient:
H.E. Dr. Abdullah A. Al Rabeeah
Advisor to the Royal Court and Supervisor General of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSRelief)
9:15 P.M. --- Gala Closing Remarks
Speaker:
Mr. H. Delano Roosevelt
President and CEO
National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations
9:00 – 10:00 P.M. --- Dessert Reception, Networking, and Entertainment
Guests to proceed to Atrium Hall for dessert, networking, and Oud entertainment.
Wednesday, November 13, 2024
8:00 – 8:45 A.M. --- Registration, Networking, and Coffee, Tea, and Light Breakfast
8:45 – 9:00 A.M. --- Welcome & Introductions
Speakers:
Mr. H. Delano Roosevelt
President & CEO
National Council on U.S.–Arab Relations
Mr. John E. Pratt
Chairman, Board of Directors
National Council on U.S.–Arab Relations
Ms. Allyson McKithen
Vice President, International Programs, TCMA
Ronald Reagan International Trade Building
9:00 – 10:15 A.M. --- Global Outlook: What’s Next for the United States, the Arab Region, and the World?
Introduction:
Mr. H. Delano Roosevelt
President & CEO
National Council on U.S.–Arab Relations
Moderator:
Mr. Chris Whipple
Author, Journalist, Documentary Filmmaker, and Former Producer for CBS News 60 Minutes
Speakers:
Dr. Abderrahim Foukara
Washington D.C. Bureau Chief, Al Jazeera and host of its flagship television program Min Washington [“From Washington”]
Ms. Judith Miller
Adjunct Fellow, Manhattan Institute, Contributing Editor, City Journal, and Former Reporter, The New York Times
Mr. Charles Glass
Author, Journalist, Broadcaster, and Publisher
10:15 - 11:00 A.M. --- The Future of Education in the Arab World
Introduction of Opening Session Speaker:
Mr. H. Delano Roosevelt
President & CEO
National Council on U.S.–Arab Relations
Opening Session Speaker:
HRH Prince Abdulaziz Bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
Chairman, Arab Gulf Programme for Development-AGFUND
Moderator:
Dr. Fadi Hilani
Senior Academic and Research Fellow-in-Residence
National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations
Speakers:
Dr. Mohammed Zakari
President, Arab Open University
Mr. Ghassan Hitto
Co-Founder, Chairman, and President of the Syrian Forum
11:00 – 11:30 A.M. --- Future Challenges to Global Heath
Introduction:
Ms. Paige Peterson
Member of the Board of Directors, National Council on U.S. Arab Relations
Moderator:
Dr. Jay A. Levy
Professor in Residence, Department of Medicine;
University of California, San Francisco
Speaker:
Dr. Laurie Garrett
Journalist and Author,
Polk, Peabody, and Pulitzer Prize Awardee
Former Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations
11:30 - 12:30 P.M. --- Regional Dynamics and the United States, Part I
Introduction:
Mr. H. Delano Roosevelt
President & CEO
National Council on U.S.–Arab Relations
Moderator:
Col. Abbas Dahouk (U.S. Army Ret.)
Board Member, National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations; Principal, Hyphen Point LLC
Speakers:
Mr. Timothy A. Lenderking
U.S. Special Envoy to Yemen, U.S. Dept. of State
H.E. Cheikh Samy Gemayel
Member of the Parliament, Republic of Lebanon
Ms. Nada al Hajjri
President, Yemen Information Center; Managing Director, Alternative Tracks Consulting
Ms. Shukriya Bradost
Non-Resident Scholar
Middle East Institute
12:30 – 1:00 P.M. --- NETWORKING OPPORTUNITY
Note to All Guests – Please clear room and proceed to Atrium Hall so conference staff can set ballroom for luncheon. This time is set aside for networking and personal conversations.
1:00 – 2:45 P.M. --- Luncheon Keynote Remarks
Luncheon Keynote Speakers: Presentation of the National Council on U.S. – Arab Relations, Lifetime Achievement Award to Mr. Leo A. Daly III, FAIA, RIBA, FRAIA, Chairman, LEO A DALY: In recognition of Mr. Daly’s continuous commitment to foster international relations throughout his 60-year architecture career.
Award to be presented by Mr. H. Delano Roosevelt and accepted by Mr. Edward G. Benes, PE, JD, Chief Executive Officer, LEO A. DALY.
Chairman, King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia;
Former Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the United Kingdom, and to the United States;
Former Director General, General Intelligence Directorate, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
H.E. Mohammed Abou El Enein
Deputy Speaker of the Egyptian Parliament; Cleopatra Group Chairman and Founder; Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean Honorary President
2:45 - 3:00 P.M. --- Challenges and Opportunities for the Next Administration in North Africa
Introduction:
Mr. H. Delano Roosevelt
President & CEO
National Council on U.S.–Arab Relations
Speaker:
Dr. William Lawrence
Director of the North Africa Area Studies and Senior Academic Fellow
National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations
3:00 - 3:30 P.M. --- A Fireside Chat with Mr. Javier Garcia and Mr. H. Delano Roosevelt "When People are Hungry, Send in Cooks - Not Tomorrow, Today"
Introduction:
Mr. H. Delano Roosevelt
President & CEO
National Council on U.S.–Arab Relations
Speaker:
Javier Garcia
Co-Chair and Treasurer, World Central Kitchen (Founded by Chef Jose Andres)
3:30- 4:30 P.M. --- Regional Dynamics and the United States Part II
Introduction:
Mr. H. Delano Roosevelt
President & CEO
National Council on U.S.–Arab Relations
Moderator:
Dr. Thomas Mattair
Middle East Historian and Scholar; Former Executive Director of the Middle East Policy Council
Speakers:
Ambassador (Ret.) James Jeffery
Former Ambassador to Iraq and Turkey & Former Special Envoy to the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS
Dr. Hussein Ibish
Senior Resident Scholar, Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington
The Right Honorable Dr. Mona Makram Ebeid
Distinguished Lecturer, American University in Cairo;
Former Member of Parliament and Senator, Egypt
4:30 - 5:30 P.M. --- One-on-one Conversation with General David Petraeus (U.S. Army Ret.)
Introduction:
Mr. H. Delano Roosevelt
President & CEO
National Council on U.S.–Arab Relations
Moderator:
Ms. Raghida Dergham
Founder and Executive Chairman, Beirut Institute
Columnist, Annahar Al Arabi and The National
Speaker:
General David Petraeus (U.S. Army Ret.)
Partner, KKR, Chairman, KKR Global Institute
5:30 - 6:20 P.M. --- Screening of "Confessions From A War," a documentary film about the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990) and lessons about reconciliation
Introduction:
Ms. Paige Peterson
Member of the Board of Directors, National Council on U.S. Arab Relations
Speakers:
Mr. Jerome Gary
Producer, "Confessions From A War", Chairman, Visionaire Media & the MENA Media Fund
Ms. Seema Matin
Senior Advisor for Private Sector Outreach, U.S. Department of State
6:20 - 6:30 P.M. --- Conference Closing Remarks
Speaker:
Mr. H. Delano Roosevelt
President and CEO
National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations
- 2024 Conference Registration
- 2024 Sponsorship Opportunities
- About the Annual Arab-U.S. Policymakers Conference
- Past Conference Proceedings: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019
About the Arab-U.S. Policymakers Conference
Since 1992, the National Council's Annual Arab-U.S. Policymakers Conference has gathered nationally and internationally renowned specialists for a one-of-a-kind shared experience. The specialists are tasked with prioritizing, discussing, debating, and analyzing issues of overarching importance to Americans, Arabs, and others.
In the course of panel sessions, speakers, and other activities, Arab and American leaders from government, the military, business, and academe share privileged information, insight, and recommendations. Their input and comments are vitally important to the definition of issues, the ordering of priorities, and the charting of paths forward.
The Arab-U.S. Policymakers Conference's mission is educational. It is the largest gathering in America dedicated to understanding and offering proposals for improving the U.S.-Arab relationship.
The 31st Annual Arab-U.S. Policymakers Conference, Arab-U.S. Uncertainties: What Lies Ahead?, convened at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, DC, on November 2-3, 2022.
The 30th Annual Arab-U.S. Policymakers Conference, Whither U.S.-Arab Relations? Addressing Complex Realities, Fresh Visions, and New Possibilities, was broadcast live online November 17-18, 2021.
Transcripts as well as audio and video recordings of past Policymakers Conferences are available on the National Council’s website.
31st Annual
Arab-U.S. Policymakers Conference
Arab-U.S. Uncertainties and Constants: What Lies Ahead?
American and Arab Strategies, Analyses, and Policy Prescriptions for Daunting Economic, Defense, and Political Challenges and Realities
November 2-3, 2022
- Watch Conference Videos on YouTube
- Listen to Conference Podcasts on Apple Podcasts and Spotify
- HRH Prince Turki Al Faisal Remarks: Transcript, Video
- H.E. Sayyid Badr Albusaidi Remarks: Transcript, Video
- David Petraeus and Raghida Dergham Interview: Video
30th Annual
Arab-U.S. Policymakers Conference
Whither U.S.-Arab Relations? Unnerving Uncertainties Amidst Complex Realities and New Possibilities
November 17 - 18, 2021
- Conference Proceedings
- Watch Conference Videos on YouTube
- Listen to Conference Podcasts on Apple Podcasts and Spotify
29th Annual
Arab-U.S. Policymakers Conference
The Next U.S. Presidency: Implications for the U.S.-Arab Relationship
November 17 - 19, 2020
- Conference Proceedings
- Watch Conference Videos on YouTube
- Listen to Conference Podcasts on Apple Podcasts and Spotify
28th Annual
Arab-U.S. Policymakers Conference
Treading a Tightrope: How Best to Balance and Advance the Multifaceted Arab-U.S. Relationship?
October 23 - 24, 2019
- Conference Proceedings
- Watch Conference Videos on YouTube
- Podcasts of Conference Sessions: Apple, Spotify, FeedBurner
- "Economic Diversification in the GCC" presentation by Dr. Turki Faisal Al Rasheed (pdf)
27th Annual
Arab-U.S. Policymakers Conference
What Paths Forward For America In And With The Arab Region?
October 31 - November 1, 2018
- Conference Audio, Video, and Transcripts
- Select Conference Speakers & Sessions on C-SPAN
- Podcasts of Conference Sessions: iTunes, Stitcher, FeedBurner
- Presentation by Dr. Turki Faisal Al Rasheed (pdf)
26th Annual
Arab-U.S. Policymakers Conference
Arab-U.S. Relations: How Best to Navigate an Uncertain Present and Future?
October 18 - 19, 2017
- Audio podcasts of Conference Sessions
- Video of Conference Sessions
- Keynote Address from General Joseph L. Votel
- Keynote Address from HRH Prince Turki Al Faisal
25th Annual
Arab-U.S. Policymakers Conference
The Next U.S. Presidency and U.S.-Arab Relations: Probabilities, Possibilities, Potential Pitfalls
October 26 - 27, 2016
24th Annual
Arab-U.S. Policymakers Conference
U.S.-Arab Relations at a Crossroads: What Paths Forward?
October 14 -15, 2015
- Conference Audio, Video, and Transcripts
- Conference Videos on YouTube
- Conference Podcasts on iTunes
- Conference Pictures
- 'HOW' Questions for Policymakers
23rd Annual
Arab-U.S. Policymakers Conference
Framing and Charting the Region’s Issues, Interests, Challenges, and Opportunities: Implications for Arab and U.S. Policies
October 28 - 29, 2014
- Conference Audio, Video, and Transcripts
- Conference Videos on YouTube
- Conference Podcasts on iTunes
- 'HOW' Questions for Policymakers
- Council Chronicle Conference Recap
22nd Annual
Arab-U.S. Policymakers Conference
Navigating Arab-U.S. Relations: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities
October 22 - 23, 2013
- Conference Audio, Video, and Transcripts
- Conference Videos on YouTube
- Conference Podcasts on iTunes
- Conference Pictures
- 'HOW' Questions for Policymakers
- Council Chronicle Conference Recap
21st Annual
Arab-U.S. Policymakers Conference
Arab-U.S. Relations Amidst
Transition within Constancy:
Implications for American and
Arab Interests and Policies
October 25 - 26, 2012
- Conference Audio, Video, and Transcripts
- Oct. 25 Sessions on
- Oct. 26 Sessions on
- Conference Pictures
- 'HOW' Questions for Policymakers
- Council Chronicle Conference Recap
20th Annual
Arab-U.S. Policymakers Conference
Dynamics of Recent Events
in the Arab World:
Framing the Arab and U.S. Responses
October 27 - 28, 2011
- Conference Audio, Video, and Transcripts
- Remarks by HRH Prince Turki Al-Faisal
(watch on ) - Remarks by Libyan Ambassador Ali Aujali on
19th Annual
Arab-U.S. Policymakers Conference
Arab-U.S. Relations: Going Where?
October 21 - 22, 2010
- Video: Oct. 21 Sessions | Oct. 22 Sessions
- Conference Transcripts & Video
- 'How' Questions for Policymakers
- Conference Pictures
- Select Media Coverage
- Council Chronicle Conference Recap
18th Annual
Arab-U.S. Policymakers Conference
Fresh Visions, Old Realities,
New Possibilities:
The Impact of Leadership Change
on Arab-U.S. Relations
October 15 - 16, 2009