Ashraf Fouad Makkar Joins AGSI’s Board of Directors

WASHINGTON, November 2, 2026 – The Arab Gulf States Institute is pleased to announce that Ashraf Fouad Makkar has joined the institute’s board of directors.

Ashraf Fouad Makkar is a former Middle East journalist with Reuters. During his Reuters career, Makkar covered major political developments, Gulf and Arab summits, and Middle East peace negotiations, including multitrack meetings in Washington. He reported extensively on regional oil policies and their impact on global markets, analyzed national budgets, and interviewed heads of state, prime ministers, ministers, and other senior decision makers.

His postings included Bahrain during the Iran-Iraq War, Cyprus during the closing years of the Lebanese civil war, Dubai as a Gulf correspondent, and Kuwait as senior correspondent. He reported from all six Gulf Cooperation Council states and many Arab countries, from Morocco to Sudan, covering conflicts and major events.

Makkar’s reporting career encompassed three wars involving Iraq as well as conflict in Yemen. In 2003, he led Abu Dhabi Television’s news team covering the Iraq War from the southern front, moving north into the country from Kuwait.

Based in Abu Dhabi since 2002, Makkar has advised and worked with major United Arab Emirates institutions on initiatives spanning media, strategic research, culture, and international engagement. He helped negotiate the partnership that established Sky News Arabia and served as its co-launch director. He later advised its growing management team in the company’s early years. His work has also included contributions to Abu Dhabi’s museum projects and other major initiatives across the UAE.

“I am delighted to welcome Ashraf Makkar to the board of the Arab Gulf States Institute. He has been a presence in the Middle East for decades and has a distinguished career as a journalist covering wars, energy, and Gulf leaders. As an analyst, he has advised governments and companies on how best to conduct business in the region,” said Board Chair George R. Salem. “I am very pleased that Ashraf will now be bringing his experience and expertise to AGSI’s board.”

###

The Arab Gulf States Institute is an independent, nonprofit institution dedicated to highlighting the importance of the relationship between the United States and the Gulf region through free and open exchange of multiple points of view on issues that concern the Gulf.

AGSI strives to support this goal by:

• Providing expert analysis and thoughtful debate on the economic, energy, environmental, security, social, cultural, and political dimensions of the Gulf Arab states as well as their relations with the United States and other countries.

• Informing a global audience of policymakers, legislators, businesspeople, academics, media, youth, and others as the foundation for strategic decisions regarding this important region.

• Employing multiple avenues to inform public understanding of the importance of the relationship between the United States and the Gulf Arab states.
• Encouraging strong academic coverage by developing scholars who concentrate on the study of the region.