May 18, 2026
For Immediate Release
Washington, D.C. – The National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Fadi Hilani as Director of the Levant and Middle East Area Studies Program. A distinguished scholar and policy analyst specializing in U.S. foreign policy and Middle East affairs, Dr. Hilani will lead the Council’s academic, research, and public engagement initiatives focused on the Levant and the broader Middle East region. His appointment reflects the Council’s enduring commitment to advancing rigorous scholarship, informed policy dialogue, and deeper understanding of the strategic developments shaping U.S.-Arab relations and the contemporary Middle East.
Dr. Hilani currently serves as Senior Academic and Research Fellow-in-Residence at the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations. He holds a Ph.D. in Linguistics from the University of Essex in the United Kingdom and a Master’s degree in Near Eastern Studies from New York University in the United States. His academic and policy research examines U.S. foreign policy, regional geopolitics, strategic affairs, and the evolving political dynamics of the Middle East.
Over the course of his academic career, Dr. Hilani has held academic appointments at several institutions of higher education, including Aleppo University in Syria, Isra University in Jordan, Montclair State University, and the City University of New York in the United States. His scholarship and policy analysis have focused extensively on U.S.-Arab relations, regional security, diplomacy, and the geopolitical implications of emerging technologies and global strategic competition in the Middle East.
In addition to his academic contributions, Dr. Hilani is a widely recognized media commentator and policy analyst whose insights have been featured by leading international and regional media outlets, including BBC Arabic, France 24, Sky News Arabia, Al Arabiya, Al Hadath, Al Mashhad, Al Ghad, and Syria TV. Through his media engagements and scholarly work, he has provided in-depth analysis on regional conflicts, U.S. strategic policy, Gulf security, Syria’s political transition, and broader geopolitical transformations across the Arab world.
Dr. Hilani has also played an active role in the Council’s educational and public affairs initiatives, contributing to high-level conferences, policy discussions, and academic programming dedicated to strengthening understanding between the United States and the Arab world. In his new capacity as Director of the Levant and Middle East Area Studies Program, he will continue to advance the Council’s mission by fostering scholarly exchange, strategic dialogue, and informed engagement on one of the world’s most consequential regions.