The Middle East Institute (MEI) is an autonomous research institute within the National University of Singapore (NUS). The Institute’s primary objectives are to produce timely, reliable, and non-partisan analyses of issues and to disseminate such knowledge and insights to policymakers, the business community, academia, and civil society.

The Institute conducts research and organizes conferences and seminars in pursuit of its objectives and aims to promote a deeper understanding in Singapore of the contemporary Middle East. In addition, the Institute publishes commentaries and analytical pieces on contemporary issues in the Middle East, as well as more in-depth research papers.

Since July 2009, the Institute has managed the Middle East Eminent Persons Programme (MEEPP) in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Programme invites distinguished personalities from the Middle East to Singapore to promote mutual understanding and cooperation.

Our Mission

The Institute is dedicated to the study of contemporary Middle East. It aims to produce timely, reliable and non-partisan analyses of issues and to disseminate such knowledge and insights to policymakers, the business community, academia, and civil society.

Our Logo

The composition of the logo is a representation of a sunrise, with the three converging arcs representing the Institute’s three key areas of research and study—politics and security, economics and business, and culture and society.