Harvard's Belfer Center is currently accepting applications for its Emirates Leadership Initiative Research Fellowship 2026. Interested applicants are encouraged to click here to learn more about this opportunity and apply for it.
About Harvard's Belfer Center - Emirates Leadership Initiative Research Fellowship
The Emirates Leadership Initiative Research Fellowship at the Middle East Initiative provides junior and mid-career policy-oriented scholars with a ten-month stipend and access to Harvard’s libraries and other resources to pursue an independent research project on a critical public policy area relevant to the UAE, the Gulf region, and the broader Arab world. Areas of particular interest include optimizing governance, increasing economic dynamism, strengthening human capital, and improving public policy design and delivery.
This fellowship supports the Emirates Leadership Initiative’s broader objectives of building capacity in the UAE and the surrounding region, and advancing scholarship on—and identifying evidence-based solutions to—the most pressing public policy challenges facing the UAE, the Gulf, and beyond.
Benefits of Harvard's Belfer Center - Emirates Leadership Initiative Research Fellowship
- provides junior and mid-career policy-oriented scholars with a ten-month stipend and access to Harvard’s libraries and other resources to pursue an independent research project on a critical public policy area relevant to the UAE, the Gulf region, and the broader Arab world.
- The Middle East Initiative offers ten-month stipends of $55,000 to predoctoral fellows and mid-career practitioners who do not hold a PhD, $65,000 to postdoctoral fellows (those who have received their doctoral degrees less than five years prior to the appointment start date), and $75,000 to fellows who received their doctoral degrees more than five years prior to their fellowship start date.
- Fellows are expected to produce a deliverable, such as a book manuscript, journal article, working paper, or policy brief, and may collaborate with other Harvard fellows and faculty.
- Fellows have access to Harvard’s libraries and other resources and may contribute to the public life of the Middle East Initiative, including organizing or speaking at public events.
Harvard's Belfer Center - Emirates Leadership Initiative Research Fellowship Requirements
- The Emirates Leadership Initiative Research Fellowship is designed to attract the most promising junior and mid-career policy-oriented scholars and faculty, with a particular focus on scholars who are from and intend to return to the UAE, the Gulf, and the Arab world.
- While all nationalities are eligible to apply, we are particularly interested in local scholars, policy analysts, public servants, and social scientists whose proposed research demonstrates a strong potential for constructive, real-world impact.
- Priority research areas include Optimizing Governance, Increasing Economic Dynamism, Strengthening Human Capital, and Improving Public Policy Design and Delivery.
- Fellows are generally required to take a full leave of absence or sabbatical from their primary employer for the duration of the fellowship appointment.
Application Date and Process
- CV/ Resume: This should include all degrees earned (with dates), as well as expected dates of completion for any degrees currently in progress.
- Research proposal (3-5 pages): Describe the project, identify key questions or gaps, include a timeline, indicate 2-3 Harvard faculty members for collaboration, and specify whether seeking full or partial funding.
- Unofficial transcript (for applicants who have not earned a PhD).
- Contact information for 3 recommenders: applicants are responsible for ensuring recommenders submit on time; MEI ordinarily will not contact delinquent recommenders.
- Writing sample (fewer than 50 pages; English language only) including an abstract of 300 words or less; preferably single-authored; must be composed without the use of generative AI.
Application Deadline
01 December, 2026
Opportunity Application
View details of
Harvard's Belfer Center - Emirates Leadership Initiative Research Fellowship
Apply for Harvard's Belfer Center - Emirates Leadership Initiative Research Fellowship
