Acknowledgement

About the Authors

The Arab Social Media Report series is produced by MBRSG’s Governance and Innovation Program, and co-authored by Racha Mourtada and Fadi Salem. This edition of the report is co-authored by: Racha Mourtada, Fadi Salem and Sarah Alshaer.

Fadi Salem is Director of the Governance and Innovation Program at the MBR School of Government.

Racha Mourtada is a Research Associate in the Governance and Innovation Program at the MBR School of Government

Sarah Al-Shaer is a Research Officer in the Governance and Innovation Program at the MBR School of Government

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to express their personal appreciation to Maryam Minhas and Zargham Minhas for their invaluable contribution to the research; and would like to acknowledge the efforts of the following individuals in providing essential contributions, input and assistance into the report and its related materials:

Daniel Winterstein, Ghaith Yagan, Lama Ataya, Peggy Trabulsi, Roba Al-Assi, Heba Shaaban, Salha BuKattara

The Governance and Innovation Program

The Governance and Innovation Program at Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government (MBRSG) conducts research and programmatic activities focusing on policies for government innovation and development through information technologies in the Arab states. The objectives of the program are aligned with regional objectives towards nurturing a culture of innovation in society, promoting participatory, inclusive and transparent government models; and enabling more responsive and efficient governance through effective adoption of information technologies. The program works on three tracks:

·         Policy and Scholarly Research: Conducting research focusing on government policies and societal transformation through technological innovation in the Arab region.

·         Policy Advisory: The ultimate objective of the Program is to inform present and future Arab policy makers in assessing the impact of the ongoing transformations in their societies and governments; and to help develop locally fitting policies for future governance initiatives.

·         Regional Development Activities: The Program brings together regional and international networks of practitioners and scholars working in related areas through programmatic and educational activities, in order to encourage proactive regional knowledge sharing and bridge the gap between policy and research.

The Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government

The Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government (MBRSG) is a research and teaching institution focusing on public policy in the Arab world. Established in 2005 under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, MBRSG aims to promote good governance through enhancing the region’s capacity for effective public policy.
Toward this goal, the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government also collaborates with regional and global institutions in delivering its research and training programs. In addition, the School organizes policy forums and international conferences to facilitate the exchange of ideas and promote critical debate on public policy in the Arab world.
The School is committed to the creation of knowledge, the dissemination of best practice and the training of policy makers in the Arab world. To achieve this mission, the School is developing strong capabilities to support research and teaching programs, including

• Applied research in public policy and management;
• Master’s degrees in public policy and public administration;
• Executive education for senior officials and executives; and,
• Knowledge forums for scholars and policy makers.