The Institute of Regional and International Studies (IRIS) at the American University of Iraq, Sulaimani (AUIS), will host the 9th annual Sulaimani Forum on April 16-17, 2025. As Iraq’s leading policy event, the Forum will bring together more than 700 national and international policymakers, diplomats, researchers, and experts to discuss the most urgent issues facing Iraq and the wider region.
This year’s Forum takes place at a time of rising uncertainty in the Middle East. Discussions will focus on how Iraq and its neighbors are responding to changing global and regional alliances, in addition to new economic and security challenges. The agenda will also highlight the impact of climate change on health and resources, as well as key questions around governance and Iraq's upcoming elections.
The 2025 Forum will feature senior leaders from both the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government, alongside high-level delegations from the United States and several countries across the Middle East and Europe. As in previous years, the Forum will also welcome leading voices from civil society, international organizations, and the private sector.
IRIS is proud to partner with five leading policy institutions for this year’s edition: Chatham House, Century International, the International Crisis Group, Istituto Affari Internazionali, and the Issam Fares Institute at the American University of Beirut. In addition to public panels, the Forum will host a series of policy roundtables that bring together scholars and policymakers for in-depth discussions. These sessions are organized in collaboration with the Arab Reform Initiative, Johns Hopkins University, and King’s College London.
As a university-based think tank, IRIS is committed to bridging the gap between cutting-edge research and real-world policy. The Sulaimani Forum creates a rare space where rigorous analysis meets practical decision-making.
- Dr. Mac Skelton, IRIS Executive Director
Since its founding in 2013, the Sulaimani Forum has built a reputation as Iraq’s most trusted platform for dialogue on politics, policy, and regional affairs.
Click here to review the previous Sulaimani Forums.
