The Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR) is an independent research institution dedicated to the promotion of professional research and high quality education in the UAE and the Gulf area.
The research units are divided into two sections, one focusing on strategic issues affecting the national interests of the UAE and the Gulf region, the other centering on domestic economic and social trends. Both Departmentsare highly policy focussed and committed to commicating policy recommendations to policy makers.
The Department of Economic and Social Studies undertakes the research in the following areas:
- Examining fluctuations in the energy market and their subsequent impact on the national economy.
- Identifying economic sectors that enhance and diversify national competitiveness.
- Researching the national labor market and demographic composition.
- Developing and updating plans for national economic development.
The Department of Strategic Studies
researches issues with political and/or military implications for the national security of the UAE particularly in the following areas:
- Monitoring and analyzing changes that might impact national security
- Observing major actors in the international arena, such as the US, the EU, Russia, China, and Japan
- studying significant trends, such as ethnic tensions and religious extremism, in neighboring countries
- Exploring avenues to enhance defense and security cooperation among GCC member states, other Arab states, and additional countries in order to specify their implications on UAE defense policy
ECSSR is also undertaking research projects in UAE Economic Diversification and the influence of the communication and information revolution upon state and society in the Gulf.
ECSSR hosts conferences and symposia, organizes workshops, and sponsors a lecture series featuring prominent scholars and international dignitaries. ECSSR publishes books, research papers, translated studies and two occasional paper series.
In addition, ECSSR has an active program which provides research fellowships and grants for writing books and the translation, into Arabic, of works relevant to the Center’s main themes.
English language website contains details of projects, activities and training.