As the daughter of a Dutch mother and a Lebanese father, I grew up navigating two contrasting cultural and political landscapes. My dual background naturally evolved into an academic focus on the structural dynamics underlying instability in the Middle East and North Africa. Through my Bachelor’s in Arabic Language and Culture and my Master’s in Political Science (International Relations), I scratched the surface of exploring the region’s geopolitical intricacies. Therefore, I am eager to deepen my research at The Hague Institute for Geopolitics.

By building on HIG’s position at the intersection of regional expertise and EU-level policy engagement, I aim to analyse the geopolitical developments that shape conflict trajectories, political reform, but most importantly, dialogue across MENA and EU spheres. Through HIG, I hope to contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the region, shrink the space in which persistent misconceptions can take root, and stimulate constructive EU-MENA cooperation on the long-run.