Al-Mesbar Center

What Al-Mesbar Center does

Al-Mesbar Studies & Research Center is a Dubai-based think tank founded in 2007 that produces multidisciplinary research on political and social movements in the Arab and Muslim world. Its flagship product is a thick monthly Arabic research volume, published continuously since founding, with each issue presenting diverse scholarly viewpoints on a single theme of regional concern. The center has built an extensive content library comprising more than 154 books, 32 research papers, and 118 articles, distributed through its own websites (mesbar.org and almesbar.net), an online store, and an e-book reader platform, supplemented by an English-language podcast (Al-Mesbar Radio) hosted by senior fellow Joseph Braude.

The organization operates with a small team of 11-50 multilingual experts drawn from Saudi Arabia, the Gulf states, the Levant, North Africa, the United States, and Europe, organized around an editorial board led by President Turki Al-Dakhil. Distribution is amplified materially through Al-Dakhil's role as host of the 'Spotlights' talk show on Al-Arabiya TV, which reaches 90 million viewers weekly, alongside ongoing contributions to Arabic print, radio, and television outlets. The center engages in international outreach through co-publications and conference partnerships with institutions including the Foreign Policy Research Institute (Philadelphia), Centro Culturale Francescano, and the Canadian University of Dubai.

Commercially, Al-Mesbar is structured as a private, non-investor-backed research entity generating revenue through one-time publication sales via its online store and e-book platform. Pricing is not publicly disclosed, and no enterprise contracts, government grants, or institutional sponsor funding are visible in the available data. Strategic activity has focused on international partnership expansion since 2013, with the center extending its operational footprint into Europe and North America through co-published research and conference proceedings, while its physical headquarters remain in Dubai's Gold and Diamond Park.

Name

Al-Mesbar Center

Legal name

Al-Mesbar Studies & Research Center

Website

https://mesbar.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Al-Mesbar Center is a Dubai-based think tank, founded in 2007, that publishes monthly Arabic research volumes and maintains a library of 154+ books on Arab political and social movements for policymakers, scholars, and media.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Think Tank Research and Policy Analysis

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Periodical Publishers (513120), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

Conference Proceedings & Research Reports Publishing (EDAGAFAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Islamic Broadcasting (MPABALAG)

Keywords

• Think tank research
• Arab affairs analysis
• Political movements research
• Regional policy research
• Middle East studies

Headquarters

HQ city

Dubai

HQ country

United Arab Emirates

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Publications: Monthly book publications in Arabic; books, papers, and articles available through online store and e-book platform. Total of 154 books and 32 papers published.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Al-Mesbar Center is a Dubai-based think tank that produces and publishes original research on political and social movements in the Arab and Muslim world. Its flagship offering is a thick monthly research volume in Arabic published continuously since 2007, supplemented by a catalog of 154+ published books, 32 research papers, and 118 articles, plus an English-language podcast (Al-Mesbar Radio) and an online e-book reader platform.

Product overview

Al-Mesbar Studies & Research Center is a Dubai-based think tank offering a portfolio of research products centered on its flagship "Monthly Book" publication program (active since 2007). The Center produces thick monthly volumes in Arabic covering political and social movements in the Arab and Muslim world, supplemented by a library of over 154 published books, 32 research papers, and 118 articles. Additional offerings include the Al-Mesbar Radio podcast for English-speaking audiences and an e-books reader platform. The portfolio forms a multidisciplinary research ecosystem combining original scholarship with translated content for both Arabic and international audiences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Monthly Book A thick monthly volume of Arabic-language research published continuously since 2007, covering pressing topics relevant to Arab and Muslim world decision makers, with each volume presenting diverse scholarly viewpoints on a single theme.
• Published Books Library An extensive library of more than 154 books addressing political, social, and religious topics including pluralism, tolerance, sectarian diversity, and coexistence in Arab countries, available through the center's online store and website.
• Research Papers A collection of 32 academic research papers on topics including interfaith dialogue, religious studies, and interfaith education in the Arab and Muslim world, accessible via the center's papers portal.
• Articles Collection A collection of 118 articles providing analysis and commentary on current events and political developments in the Arab and Muslim world, available on the center's website.
• Al-Mesbar Radio Podcast An English-language podcast hosted by senior fellow Joseph Braude, featuring translated articles, excerpts from the monthly books, and discussions on Arab politics and current affairs for English-speaking audiences.
• E-Books Reader Platform An online platform for reading electronic versions of Al-Mesbar's publications, accessible at almesbar.net/reader, used to distribute the center's catalog in digital form.

Named customers4 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

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Canadian University of DubaiminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2017Al Mesbar Studies & Research Centre hosted 25 students from Canadian University of Dubai for discussion about research, think tanks, and potential careers in international relations, facilitated by Dr. Wided Dafri.
• Centro Culturale FrancescanocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Al-Mesbar Studies and Research Center co-published proceedings of 'The Monastic Heritage in the Middle East' conference convened by Centro Culturale Francescano in Cairo, January 12-14, 2017. The center coordinated and reviewed content with colleague Rita Faraj managing the partnership. The conference covered diverse aspects of monastic heritage including Syriac, Maronite, Armenian, and Coptic history.
• Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2013Al-Mesbar Center co-published 'The West and the Muslim Brotherhood After the Arab Spring', an English-language e-book with the Foreign Policy Research Institute in Philadelphia, February 2013. This represents the center's international outreach through co-published works.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Atlantic Council: US-based think tank with the Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East producing research, papers, and events on Arab regional affairs. Comparable to Al-Mesbar as a policy research and convening organization focused on the same geography.
• RAND Corporation: US-based global policy research institution with a Center for Middle East Public Policy producing research reports on Arab politics and security. Comparable to Al-Mesbar in publishing multidisciplinary policy research, though at vastly greater scale.
• Brookings Institution: Large US-based policy research organization with a Center for Middle East Policy that publishes books, papers, and articles on Arab politics. Comparable to Al-Mesbar as a think tank producing scholarly policy output, though at materially greater scale and funding.
• Chatham House: London-based international affairs think tank with substantial Middle East and North Africa research program publishing papers, books, and journals. Overlaps with Al-Mesbar in publishing research and convening policymakers on Arab regional affairs.
• Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: Washington-based think tank with a Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut producing research on Arab political and social dynamics. Direct peer to Al-Mesbar in publishing region-specific policy research, books, and analysis.

Direct peers

• Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI): Philadelphia-based foreign policy think tank that co-published with Al-Mesbar on 'The West and the Muslim Brotherhood After the Arab Spring' (2013). Direct collaboration partner producing English-language research on Middle East politics.
• Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies (ACRPS): Doha-based think tank publishing Arabic-language books, papers, and journals on Arab political and social affairs, including the flagship 'Arab Reform Initiative'. Closest regional peer to Al-Mesbar in language, scope, and Arabic publication model.
• Middle East Institute (MEI): Washington DC-based non-profit dedicated to Middle East studies, publishing books, papers, and policy analysis on Arab political and social issues. Closely comparable to Al-Mesbar's focus on regional political and social movements and policy output.
• King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies: Riyadh-based research center publishing books, papers, and reports on Arab and Islamic political, social, and intellectual currents. Closely comparable to Al-Mesbar as a Gulf-based research center producing Arabic scholarly publications.

Emerging players

• Gulf International Forum: Emerging think tank focused on Gulf politics and policy with publications and convenings on the Arab region. Comparable to Al-Mesbar in regional policy focus, though smaller and earlier-stage in content depth.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Al-Mesbar Center