Bringing together leading international experts and key regional stakeholders, the Annual Forum for Open Research in MENA supports the exchange of ideas and strategies relating to the Arab world’s transition towards more accessible, sustainable and inclusive research and education models.

The event allows librarians, researchers, policy makers, higher-education institutions, and solutions providers to exchange ideas and discuss the challenges they face and solutions they have developed relating to the implementation of open science policies and practises, and the building of open science communities, in higher education institutions and research communities across the Arab World.

Every year, we hold the Forum in a different Arab State, to enable all researchers, librarians, and Open Science champions to have the opportunity to attend in person (as well as online).

In 2022, we held the Forum in Cairo, Egypt, with the support of UNESCO and the Egyptian Knowledge Bank. The event was a huge success, bringing together 50 speakers and over 1,100 delegates from 48 countries across the world.

The 2023 Annual Forum will be co-hosted with Khalifa University, and will offer a series of carefully tailored presentations and panels addressing the key themes and topics raised during the 2022 Annual Forum.