Emirates Leadership Fellowship 2027 in USA | Paid

Emirates Leadership Fellowship 2027 supports junior and mid-career policy-oriented scholars with a ten-month stipend and access to Harvard’s libraries and resources to pursue independent research on public policy areas relevant to the UAE, the Gulf, and the Arab world.

The fellowship is administered by the Middle East Initiative at the Belfer Center and is part of the Emirates Leadership Initiative at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, supported by the Department of Government Enablement — Abu Dhabi Government.

Emirates Leadership Fellowship Benefits

• provides junior and mid-career policy-oriented scholars with a ten-month stipend and access to Harvard’s libraries and other resources to pursue an independent research project on a critical public policy area relevant to the UAE, the Gulf region, and the broader Arab world.
• The Middle East Initiative offers ten-month stipends of $55,000 to predoctoral fellows and mid-career practitioners who do not hold a PhD, $65,000 to postdoctoral fellows (those who have received their doctoral degrees less than five years prior to the appointment start date), and $75,000 to fellows who received their doctoral degrees more than five years prior to their fellowship start date.
• Fellows are expected to produce a deliverable, such as a book manuscript, journal article, working paper, or policy brief, and may collaborate with other Harvard fellows and faculty.
• Fellows have access to Harvard’s libraries and other resources and may contribute to the public life of the Middle East Initiative, including organizing or speaking at public events.

Emirates Leadership Fellowship Eligibility Criteria

• The Emirates Leadership Initiative Research Fellowship is designed to attract the most promising junior and mid-career policy-oriented scholars and faculty, with a particular focus on scholars who are from and intend to return to the UAE, the Gulf, and the Arab world.
• While all nationalities are eligible to apply, we are particularly interested in local scholars, policy analysts, public servants, and social scientists whose proposed research demonstrates a strong potential for constructive, real-world impact.
• Priority research areas include Optimizing Governance, Increasing Economic Dynamism, Strengthening Human Capital, and Improving Public Policy Design and Delivery.
• Fellows are generally required to take a full leave of absence or sabbatical from their primary employer for the duration of the fellowship appointment.

How to Apply for Emirates Leadership Fellowship

• CV/ Resume: This should include all degrees earned (with dates), as well as expected dates of completion for any degrees currently in progress.
• Research proposal (3-5 pages): Describe the project, identify key questions or gaps, include a timeline, indicate 2-3 Harvard faculty members for collaboration, and specify whether seeking full or partial funding.
• Unofficial transcript (for applicants who have not earned a PhD).
• Contact information for 3 recommenders: applicants are responsible for ensuring recommenders submit on time; MEI ordinarily will not contact delinquent recommenders.
• Writing sample (fewer than 50 pages; English language only) including an abstract of 300 words or less; preferably single-authored; must be composed without the use of generative AI.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are the most frequently asked questions about the Emirates Leadership Fellowship. These answers cover eligibility, benefits, deadlines, and how to apply based on the program information.