Middle East Institute

Name

Middle East Institute

Legal name

Middle East Institute

Website

https://mei.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Middle East Institute, founded in 1946 in Washington, DC, is a non-partisan, non-profit think tank that conducts research, publishes The Middle East Journal, hosts policy events, and convenes dialogues on US-Middle East policy for government officials, scholars, media, and corporate members.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy Research and Think Tank Services

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Think Tanks, Policy Research & Public Policy Institutes (BPAGAFAO)

akta.pro secondary industry

Multilateral Diplomacy & International Representation (UN, Regional Bodies) (BPAIAIAC)

Keywords

• Policy research services
• Think tank analysis
• Middle East affairs
• Expert fellowships
• Cultural diplomacy programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Programs: MEI offers corporate and individual membership programs providing access to events, publications, and networking opportunities with policy experts.
2. Events and Conferences: In-person and virtual events including panel discussions, conferences, film screenings, and art gallery exhibitions generate engagement and potentially revenue through attendance.
3. Donations and Grants: As a non-partisan institution, MEI likely relies on donations, grants, and public support to fund operations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Middle East Institute is a non-partisan policy research think tank that produces original analysis, reports, policy memos, podcasts, and the peer-reviewed Middle East Journal on Middle East political, economic, security, and cultural affairs. It convenes policymakers, scholars, and business leaders through in-person and virtual events, and operates the MEI Arts & Culture Center, Art Gallery, and Oman Library to foster US-Middle East dialogue, offering paid corporate and individual membership programs.

Product overview

The Middle East Institute operates as a policy research and think tank organization offering a portfolio of publications, events, and programs. Its flagship product is The Middle East Journal, a peer-reviewed academic publication now delivered through a modern digital platform built by HighWire Press. The organization also provides research and commentary products including analysis, commentary, backgrounders, policy memos, reports, podcasts, and videos, organized around topics such as climate, defense and security, democracy and human rights, economics, energy, governance, great powers in the Middle East, Israel-Palestine, nuclear proliferation, regional international politics, technology, and terrorism. Additionally, MEI offers arts and culture programming through its Arts & Culture Center featuring an Art Gallery and Oman Library, alongside membership programs and events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Middle East Journal: The flagship peer-reviewed publication of the Middle East Institute, covering politics, society, and culture in the modern Middle East
• MEI Arts & Culture Center
• Oman Library

Products and services

• The Middle East Journal The oldest peer-reviewed publication dedicated to the study of the modern Middle East, covering politics, society, and culture in the region; now delivered via a modern digital platform with advanced search, Salesforce CRM integration, and COUNTER-compliant analytics for academic and policy audiences.
• Corporate Membership Program Tiered membership offering for companies providing access to MEI events, publications, and networking opportunities with policy experts, designed for corporate users seeking strategic intelligence on the Middle East.
• Individual Membership Program Membership offering for individuals providing access to MEI events, publications, and networking opportunities with policy experts and scholars.
• MEI Events and Conferences In-person and virtual panel discussions, conferences, briefings, and cultural events convening policymakers, diplomats, scholars, and business leaders on Middle East policy issues.
• Security Fellowship Program Fellowship program hosted at MEI's Security Fellowship Program for security and policy professionals engaging on Middle East security issues.
• MEI Arts & Culture Center (Art Gallery and Oman Library) Cultural programming including exhibitions at the MEI Art Gallery and the Oman Library housing materials related to Middle Eastern culture and heritage, located at MEI's Washington, DC headquarters.

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• HighWire PresscoreTechnology or Integration · 1 May 2026HighWire Press partnered with MEI to launch an enhanced digital hosting platform for The Middle East Journal, replacing the legacy system with a modern, fully branded digital environment featuring advanced search, Salesforce CRM integration through Sigma identity management, COUNTER-compliant analytics, and full-text content delivery.
• TRENDS Research & AdvisorymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 January 2026MEI Switzerland and TRENDS Research & Advisory organized the 'Europe-Middle East Strategic Dialogue' at Davos 2026, bringing together ministers, policymakers, CEOs, and thought leaders from Europe and Gulf countries to discuss strategic partnership beyond trade in areas including digital sovereignty, AI governance, energy security, and climate transition.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS): Washington-based defense and foreign-policy think tank with a Middle East Program; competes for defense-and-security mindshare and corporate sponsorship with significantly larger resources.
• RAND Corporation: Large policy research organization producing Middle East defense, security, and regional analysis; competes for government and defense-sector research dollars alongside MEI's security-focused programming.
• Atlantic Council: Washington think tank with a Middle East Programs division covering Gulf security, energy, and Iran; shares MEI's convening and corporate-member business model but with broader transatlantic scope.
• Wilson Center: Washington-based foreign-policy institute with a Middle East Program and scholar-in-residence model; comparable academic-convening format and similar non-profit funding mix.
• Council on Foreign Relations (CFR): Elite foreign-policy membership organization publishing analysis on Middle East issues; competes for corporate membership and policymaker attention with a more establishment, generalist orientation.
• Brookings Institution: Major Washington think tank with a Center for Middle East Policy covering economics, security, and governance; competes for the same US policymaker audience and donor base but with a much broader policy mandate.
• Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: Established international-affairs think tank with a sustained Middle East program (Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut); overlaps on regional analysis and convening, with a comparable research/publication model.

Regional players

• Chatham House: London-based international-affairs think tank with a Middle East and North Africa program covering energy, security, and governance; comparable research and convening model but primarily serves a UK/European audience.

Emerging players

• TRENDS Research & Advisory: UAE-based research center focused on strategic studies and international relations; partnered with MEI on the Davos 2026 Europe-Middle East Strategic Dialogue and serves a directly overlapping Gulf-policy audience.

Direct peers

• Washington Institute for Near East Policy: Washington-based think tank singularly focused on Middle East policy with deep US policymaker engagement and a strong expert/fellows bench; the closest direct competitor to MEI in scope and audience.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MiddleEastInst
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCclgK8IW7xKzd6z9DLk8slg
• Facebookfacebook.com/middleeastinstitute
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/middle-east-institute
• Instagraminstagram.com/middleeastinst

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Middle East Institute