In light of growing Arab attention to implementing sustainable development plans, the role of think tanks is becoming increasingly essential in supporting decision-makers through rigorous, evidence-based insights grounded in strategic studies and comprehensive assessments. This includes monitoring developmental realities, identifying available resources, anticipating national priorities, and clarifying the requirements for effective implementation – while drawing on international experiences, lessons learned, and the specialized expertise of United Nations bodies in sustainability and development.

In recent years, Arab interest in establishing specialized think tanks has also expanded, reflected in the outcomes of Arab Summits that emphasized strengthening the contribution of research centers to future-oriented policy thinking. This evolving momentum – reinforced by the outcomes of the 2023 Jeddah summit and the 2024 Manama summit – underscores the importance of international partnerships and cooperation with the United Nations to advance the Sustainable Development Goals and respond to pressing challenges such as climate change, environmental protection, water and food security, and renewable energy.

Against this backdrop, the Bahrain Center for Strategic, International and Energy Studies (Derasat), in cooperation with the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States, convenes its 7th Annual Forum under the theme of ‘The Arab Research Centers Forum for Sustainability and Development’, held on 22–23 December 2025 in Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain. The Forum aims to explore pathways for Arab intellectual integration on sustainability issues, and to present a balanced vision of opportunities available to Arab states as they pursue ambitious development plans, amid accelerating regional and international transformations that bring complex challenges while opening new horizons that require precise analysis and strategic foresight, with think tanks playing a central role in supporting decision-makers.