Middle East & North Africa

Cairo, Dubai, Istanbul, Tel Aviv

HBS continues its efforts to build a deep understanding of and expertise in global business practice and innovation around the world, including throughout the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The School opened the MENA Research Center in Istanbul in 2013, followed by offices in Dubai and Cairo. Separately an office was opened in Tel Aviv in 2016 reporting to the Europe Research Center. All play an important role in helping HBS develop and strengthen relationships with business and academic leaders in the Middle East, Turkey, North Africa, and Central Asia. Support for faculty research, student programming, Executive Education, and Harvard Business Publishing are enabled by these HBS locations.

Locations

Middle East and North Africa Research Center: Dubai
Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Middle East and North Africa Research Center: Cairo
Cairo, Egypt

Middle East and North Africa Research Center: Istanbul
Istanbul, Turkey

Israel Research Office
Tel Aviv, Israel

News & Highlights

March 2025
CREATING EMERGING MARKETS INTERVIEWS

Creating Emerging Markets Interviews: Alan Tabourian

The Creating Emerging Markets project provides a unique research and teaching resource on business leadership in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East over recent decades. At its core are over 180 interviews by Harvard faculty with high impact leaders in business and social enterprise. Read the interview with Alan Tabourian Chairman, Interbrand S.A.L.

February 2025
Event

Integration of AI in Marketing Strategies with Prof. Shunyuan Zhang

On February 20th, the HBS MENA Research Center and Harvard Business Review Turkey hosted a special session on the integration of AI into marketing strategies. Led by Shunyuan Zhang, Assistant Professor of Business Administration in the Marketing Unit at HBS, the discussion explored how businesses can leverage AI for content optimization, automated customer insights, AI-powered customer service, and enhanced consumer engagement. Attendees gained valuable perspectives on how AI-driven technologies are transforming marketing and customer experience. Around 40 alumni, friends, and business executives participated, engaging in a dynamic exchange on the future of AI in marketing.

February 2025
Alumni Event

Alumni Event in Dubai with Prof. Christina Wing

On February 19th, the MENA Research Center, in collaboration with the HBS Club of GCC, hosted an alumni event in Dubai exploring the challenges faced by family businesses. Titled “Beyond the Façade: Transforming Communication in Family Businesses,” the session delved into breaking through the illusion of “fake harmony” and equipping participants with strategies for approaching tough conversations with confidence and clarity. The discussion was led by Christina Wing, Senior Lecturer in the Technology & Operations Management Unit, who shared insights from her work with family businesses globally. Around 20 HBS alumni and friends attended, engaging in a dynamic exchange on navigating communication challenges in multigenerational enterprises.

DECEMBER 2024
EVENT

HBS MBA Admissions Events in Dubai and Cairo

On December 8th, MBA Admissions and the MENA Research Center hosted a coffee chat in Dubai, where 20 prospective MBA applicants engaged in conversations with Vai Schierholtz (MBA 2019), from MBA Admissions, and Alpana Thapar (MBA 2012), Executive Director of the MENA Research Center, as well as with two HBS alumni who joined the discussions and shared their perspectives on the MBA experience. This informal coffee chat provided an excellent opportunity for attendees to ask questions and gain deeper insights into the HBS MBA journey. On December 9th, the team continued their efforts with an information session in Cairo, welcoming around 100 prospective MBA applicants. The event began with welcome remarks by Vai Schierholtz and Alpana Thapar, followed by an introduction to the Case Method by Prof. Andy Zelleke, Senior Lecturer of Business Administration and Faculty Chair of the MENA Research Center. Hisham El Khazindar (MBA 2003), Co-Founder and Managing Director of Qalaa Holdings, shared his experiences during and after HBS and offered valuable insights on scholarships. The session also featured a panel discussion and Q&A with alumni and a current student, who shared their perspectives on the MBA journey. The evening concluded with a networking session, allowing attendees to connect and explore the transformative opportunities that an HBS MBA offers.

OCTOBER 2023
VIDEO

10 Year Anniversary of the MENA Research Center

To mark its 10 year anniversary milestone, the MENA Research Center unveils a video series aimed at shining a spotlight on the significant diversity of enterprises in our region and the important role played by family businesses and the entrepreneurial spirit shaping local economies. The Center has had the honor of turning some of the powerful stories into HBS case studies, and the videos feature a distinguished lineup of speakers, including faculty members, subject matter experts, and the case protagonists. In addition to those themes, the Research & More segment introduces perspectives from leaders representing key departments at HBS with which the MENA Research Center collaborates: Executive Education, External Relations, Global Initiative, Global Experience Office, and MBA Admissions. Watch the videos here.

New Research on the Region

April 2025
Teaching Material

Aramco: Navigating the Energy Transition

By: Tarun Khanna and Samir Junnarkar

April 2025
Teaching Material

Tabby: Winning Customers’ Digital Wallets

By: Eva Ascarza

Tabby, a Saudi-based fintech founded in 2019, rapidly became one of the MENA region’s first unicorns by offering buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) services with a unique twist: instead of charging end consumers, it partnered with merchants who funded the installment-based transactions. This indirect, merchant-driven customer acquisition model helped Tabby scale efficiently and remain profitable in a low-margin business. As the company reached over 5 million users, it also began expanding its product portfolio to include a marketplace, retail advertising, and a physical card offering. The case culminates in a strategic dilemma: should Tabby maintain its consumer-friendly, merchant-funded BNPL approach or adjust to growing market pressure from a major competitor, IncogKSA, whose model charges consumers directly? Students explore how Tabby can navigate growth, competition, and commoditization in a maturing fintech space while staying true to its core value proposition.

February 2025
Teaching Material

Intenseye: Powering Workplace Health and Safety with AI (B)

By: Michael W. Toffel, Shane Greenstein and Sadika El Hariri

Intenseye used its $25 million series A funds to refine and expand its digital safety platform while refining its target markets and ideal customer profile. As the company implemented new approaches to create value for its clients, such as developing an AI-powered virtual assistant software, it continued to resist requests to allow facial recognition and to expand into productivity monitoring.

See more research