A warm welcome to Ilays Library Initiative, now joining the Forum for Open Research in MENA as a member. Across Somalia, libraries are playing an increasingly important role in education, research, and community development, often serving as vital spaces for learning and access to reliable information. ILAYS works directly within this landscape, supporting libraries not only as institutions, but as engines for knowledge equity and

We are pleased to welcome Al Akhawayn University (AUI) as a new member of the Forum for Open Research in MENA (FORM). This partnership brings together a shared interest in strengthening research cultures, encouraging openness, and supporting meaningful exchange across institutions in the region. Based in Morocco, Al Akhawayn University has built a strong academic profile through its emphasis on critical inquiry, interdisciplinary learning, and

We are pleased to welcome CLOCKSS as the newest Strategic Partner in the Forum for Open Research in MENA (FORM). CLOCKSS brings to our community a longstanding commitment to digital preservation, open infrastructure, and the long-term safeguarding of scholarly knowledge. Their participation strengthens the collective effort to ensure that research produced across our region remains accessible, reliable, and preserved for future generations. CLOCKSS operates as

We are pleased to welcome the RCSI Medical University of Bahrain as the newest member of the Forum for Open Research in MENA (FORM). This partnership reflects a shared commitment to strengthening access to knowledge, supporting responsible research practices, and encouraging collaboration across the region’s scholarly and medical communities. RCSI Bahrain has established a distinctive role in the Gulf’s medical education landscape, bringing together teaching,

We’re pleased to introduce Almayzab Digital Library as the newest member of the Forum for Open Research in MENA (FORM). Based in Sudan, Almayzab joins our network with a shared goal of expanding access to knowledge and strengthening research connections across the region. The initiative reflects a clear dedication to openness and collaboration, and we look forward to building on that through joint projects and

This year’s Annual Forum for Open Research in MENA, our 4th in the event series, was a huge success! It was held in was held in Sharjah (UAE), at the American University of Sharjah who generously agreed to be our host partners. We were also honoured to have ALECSO as our Patron this year. With 154 in person delegates from 14 countries and 84 institutions,

We are delighted to welcome Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi (SUAD) to the Forum for Open Research in MENA (FORM). This collaboration reflects a shared interest in thoughtful, responsible approaches to research, and we look forward to working alongside colleagues at SUAD as part of our wider network of academic and research partners across the region. Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi has built a strong reputation for

As we count down to the start of International Open Access Week, we’re delighted to share a short message from our Co-founder and Director, Dr. Emily Choynowski, highlighting how our Annual Forum serves as a regional focal point for International Open Access Week, offering a platform for collaboration and bringing together institutions, researchers, and advocates from across the Arab world to exchange ideas, strengthen networks,

The Knowledge E Foundation planned to develop Al Wusul: The Arab Journal of Open Science Policies and Practises some years ago. This is a Diamond Open Access bilingual journal, publishing original research and localised case studies in Arabic and English, with a focus on the role, implementation and impact of open science policies and practises in Arab higher education institutions. We aim to provide a

The programme for the 4th Annual Forum for Open Research is now available! With 26 sessions, delivered by 88 speakers from 60 institutions in 27 countries, this will be a truly engaging and high impact event. View Programme Reflecting the conference title – Becoming Open: Capacity Building and Community Collaboration in the Arab World – and aligning with the UAE’s Year of Community, the conference will focus