The top 10 research centers in the Arab region, according to the newly formulated criteria by the Abu Dhabi-based Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR), in the descending order, are: Carnegie Middle East Center, Republic of Lebanon; Brookings Doha Center, State of Qatar; Bahrain Center for Strategic, International and Energy Studies, Kingdom of Bahrain; Kuwait Center for Strategic and Future Studies, State of Kuwait; Middle East Studies Center, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan; Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, Arab Republic of Egypt; Center for Arab Unity Studies, Republic of Lebanon; Dubai School of Government (DSG), United Arab Emirates; King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; The Moroccan Interdisciplinary Center for Strategic and International Studies, Kingdom of Morocco.

ECSSR's application of new criteria has produced another list for international rankings. ECSSR did not include itself in the evaluation for the sake of impartiality and integrity and because it is a non-profit institution that does not seek any kind of funding.

The top 10 research centers at the international level, according to ECSSR's method of ranking, in the descending order are: Brookings Institution, United States; Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House), United Kingdom; Center for Strategic and International Studies, United States; Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, United States; Council on Foreign Relations, United States; International Institute for Strategic Studies, United Kingdom; Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Kingdom of Sweden; German Institute for International and Security Affairs, Federal Republic of Germany; RAND Corporation, United States and Jeju Peace Institute, Republic of South Korea.

The report ranking Arab and international strategic research centers and think-tanks was announced by ECSSR at a recent press conference at its headquarters in Abu Dhabi. A total of 219 centers for strategic studies from more than 30 countries were ranked in the report.

The Director General of ECSSR, Dr. Jamal Sanad Al-Suwaidi, in remarks at the conference said, "Our latest achievement has taken several months of hard work and diligence. This achievement lies in formulating new academic criteria based on impartiality, fairness and transparency regarding the ranking of Arab and international think tanks." These academic criteria, applied for the first time, employ accurate and specific parameters and principles of impartiality and transparency that take into consideration contemporary, scientific and intellectual developments, he noted.

The main incentive for this initiative was the frequent requests made by various Arab and international think tanks to develop a reliable system of ranking based on a standardized scientific approach with rigorous regulations, he further added.

It was taken in response to the complaints made by several think tanks over the shortcomings in the method of rating and their calls for modification in the criteria followed in certain Arab and international quarters as it was felt that sometimes they contradict standards of impartiality, transparency and the objectives pursued by research centers, the director of the think tank added.

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