Middle East Institute

Sadu, a traditional weaving practice shaped by nomadic desert life and the ingenuity of women makers, translates generations of knowledge into disciplined bands of vivid geometry. Historically woven from sheep and camel wool for tents and furnishings, Sadu’s motifs form a visual language of movement, memory, and identity—elevating a practical necessity into a lasting cultural symbol.

The final days of 2025 marked a turning point in the Middle East, as competition between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in Yemen spilled out into the open. Tensions between the two coalition partners, which jointly launched a military intervention in Yemen in 2015, have simmered for years and are now rapidly escalating, with far-reaching implications for both Yemen and regional security more broadly.

On October 9, the White House persuaded Israel and Hamas to agree to a cease-fire based on a 20-point peace plan initially unveiled on September 29. The plan specifically called for the formation of two multinational entities. A “Board of Peace,” chaired by President Donald Trump, would be composed of senior officials charged with setting an initial framework for the redevelopment of Gaza.

Since Israel’s 12-day war against Iran in June 2025, Tehran and its network of regional proxies and non-state allies, the so-called Axis of Resistance, have entered a phase of strategic dormancy — an outward calm concealing rearmament, financial adaptation, and ideological renewal.

President Trump has unequivocally rejected any efforts by Israel to formally annex the West Bank. This builds on stark warnings from America’s Gulf allies, including the original Abraham Accords signatory the United Arab Emirates. These warnings have reiterated that formal annexation would cross a “red line.” Nevertheless, de facto annexation efforts, long-underway, have been accelerating in recent months, garnering little attention in Washington.

Each issue of The Middle East Journal includes book reviews that are among the most respected, comprehensive, and up-to-date in the field of Middle East studies. Here are 10 recommended titles selected by our Book Review Editor and Editor from reviews published in this year's issues.

Join us for the closing celebration of MEI’s Arab Pop Art exhibition, featuring a live performance by Syrian-American rapper, spoken word poet, and storyteller Omar Offendum. This special evening of poetry and music draws inspiration from the hakawati storytelling traditions of Damascus, while staying firmly rooted in the stories, rhythms, and streets of Offendum’s hometown, New York City.

In the final episode of 2025, MEI Senior Fellow Paul Salem joins hosts Alistair Taylor and Matthew Czekaj to unpack the major developments that shaped the Middle East over the past year and to look ahead to 2026. Salem reviews the key events that redefined the regional order, including President Donald Trump’s return to office, the 12-day war between Israel and Iran, and the ongoing negotiations over Gaza.

US President Donald Trump is scheduled to deliver a prime-time address to the nation this evening at a moment when public support for his second term has hit new lows. Speculation about the focus of the president’s speech ranged from efforts to shore up views about his poor handling of the economy at home to perhaps a major announcement on Venezuela, where Trump imposed a blockade of sanctioned oil tankers.

Following another year of pivotal developments and transformational change, the Middle East could be poised to turn the page on many of its long-running conflicts and sources of instability. But lasting fruits of the processes begun in 2025 will require a determined, intentional focus by regional actors and the United States. Given current trends, MEI experts weigh in on where the region may be headed in 2026.