The Fiker Institute, a Dubai-based think tank specializing in international affairs, hosted its inaugural International Affairs Retreat on April 12, 2025. The American University in Dubai’s Department of International and Middle Eastern Studies was represented by both faculty and students at the event.

Dr. Farid Guliyev, Assistant Professor of Political Science, participated in a panel on climate change, where he discussed the key outcomes of the COP29 summit in Baku, assessed the potential impact of a second Trump presidency on U.S. and global climate and energy policies, and examined how geopolitical rivalries influence the international climate agenda and the prospects for effective multilateral cooperation.

Also in attendance were Dr. Matthew Ingalls, Chair of the Department of International and Middle Eastern Studies, and Dr. Deniz Gökalp, Associate Professor of Sociology. They were joined by several BAIS (Bachelor of Arts in International Studies) students. Among them, Hamad Alfalasi participated in a panel titled “BRICS in the Age of the Global South,” while Abdulla Alhashemi presented a poster based on his capstone project, which examines the UAE’s economic diversification strategies and its foreign policy.

Photos (©Fiker Institute)