Exploring the Arab Energy Club
Objectives and Mission
The AEC aims at promoting dialogue and interaction among Arab energy professionals and interested parties in energy, in order to discuss the status of the energy sector in the Arab countries with special focus on gas and oil and the means to enhance their contribution to the social and economic development
- Enhance the contribution of the energy sector in the economic and social development of the region
- Promote research on the energy issues of the region
- Supported by the industry and institutions from the region.
Discuss the current situation and developments in the international energy scene including renewable energy and its effect on the Arab region
Debating the status of the energy sector in the Arab Countries especially those related to oil and gas, and ways and means of promoting their contribution to social and economic development
Discussing international energy situation and relations including the prospects of renewable energy and the impact on the Arab region
Deepen the awareness of the energy issues and their impact on the environment and development in the Arab countries
Exchange of information and analysis with the other energy oriented centers and clubs
Encourage the establishment of energy research centers in universities and colleges in the Arab world
Inside the Arab Energy Club
Membership
The current membership is drawn from academia, research centers, the oil industry, power industry and the government.
Discussions in the AEC meetings follow Chatham House rule of not quoting or attributing the views presented in the meetings without the consent of the person or the group.
The AEC has been meeting twice a year, once in the headquarter country and one in another Arab world country. The forum signed a memorandum of understanding with the Oil and Gas Authority in the Kingdom of Bahrain to hold one meeting annually in the Kingdom.
- Current and future oil market outlook
- Energy investments in the region
- Natural gas markets and prices in the region
- The outlook for energy services in the region
- Renewable energy prospects
- The role of the National Oil Companies in the development of their countries
- Electricity reforms in the region
Leadership
President
Dr. Carole Nakhle
Chief Executive Officer, Crystol Energy
Dr Carole Nakhle is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Crystol Energy. She worked with major energy companies (Eni and Equinor) at the executive level, governments and policy makers, international organizations, as well as academic institutions and specialized think tanks on a global scale. She sits on the Governing Board of the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI). She has lectured at leading academic institutions, including: the Blavatnik School of Government at Oxford University, Universities of Dundee and Surrey in the UK, The Graduate Institute in Geneva, Saint Joseph University in Lebanon and The National Defense University in the USA. She was appointed a Member of the Hydrogen Expert Committee for COP28 Energy Transition Changemakers. She founded the not-for-profit organization ‘Access for Women in Energy’ in 2007, and has supported similar initiatives in Ghana, Tunisia and the UAE. She was awarded CEO of the year in the UK in 2021.
Vice President
Dr. Osamah Alsayegh
Energy and Building Research Scientist, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR)
Osamah Alsayegh is a Research Scientist at the Energy and Building Research Center at the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), Kuwait. He is a Visiting Research Scholar at the Center for Energy Studies, Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, Houston, Texas, USA. He has been leading and participating in Kuwait’s national energy system planning and strategy development projects since 2000 including the development of a National Strategy for the Exploitation of Renewable Energy, the Development of Sustainable National Energy White Paper, the Kuwait Energy Outlook Program, and the Shagaya Renewable Energy Plant (Phase-1). He received his PhD in electrical engineering from Lehigh University, Pennsylvania, USA.
Treasurer
Fuad AlZayer
Energy Transition Consultant & Business Development: Innovation, Diplomacy, & International Dialogue
Fuad AlZayer is a distinguished Energy Consultant based in Saudi Arabia, focusing on Energy Dialogue, Geopolitics, Energy Transition, and Clean Energy. He participates regularly in international conferences and shares his insights across Arabic and English media, TV, etc. about energy matters in the Arab World.
He worked at the International Energy Forum (IEF) as the Global Coordinator for the Joint Organizations Data Initiative (JODI), engaging with over 100 countries to enhance global energy transparency. He also represented JODI at high-level events such as the G20.
At OPEC, he was part of the organization Executive Management , and served as the Head of the Data/Information Department, significantly enhancing OPEC's credibility in global energy data and fostering cooperation among member countries.
With 20 years of diverse experience at Saudi Aramco holding different technical and managerial positions , Fuad played a vital role in various projects, including being part of the development of the company 5-year Saudi Aramco Business Plan, showcasing his expertise in driving industry advancements and sustainable practices.
Program Manager
Kate Dourian
Fellow of the Empower Institute in the United Kingdom, and Contributing Editor at MEES
Kate Dourian is a fellow of the Energy Institute in the UK and a member of the advisory committee. She also sits on the board of the institute’s Middle East branch. She is also a non-resident fellow at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington. She has been a contributing editor at MEES, writing opinion pieces on energy.
She was programme officer for the Middle East and North Africa at the International Energy Agency. She has been senior editor at MEES, Editor-in-Chief for the Middle East at S&P Global Platts and a senior editor at Reuters with postings in Lebanon, Cyprus, Egypt, Morocco and the UK.
Dr. Majid Al-Moneef
President, Saudi Association for Energy Economics
Dr. Majid Al-Moneef is the president of Saudi Association for Energy Economics and was the chairman of the International Advisory Committee of King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC). He was the Secretary General of Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Economic Council and Saudi Arabia’s Governor to OPEC, president of the Saudi Economic Association and vice dean and professor of economics at King Saud University. He was a member of the Consultative Assembly of Saudi Arabia, Saudi Aramco Board of Directors, and the Board of trustees of the Economic Research Forum.
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Dr. Adnan Shihab-Eldin
Senior Visiting Research Fellow, Oxford Institute for Energy Studies
Dr. Adnan Shihab-Eldin is a Senior Visiting Research Fellow, Oxford Institute for Energy Studies (UK), a Member of the Board of Sponsors of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. He was the Director General and a Board member of the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences. He served as OPEC’s Acting SG and Director of Research and held senior director positions at the IAEA and UNESCO. He was the Director General of the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR). He received all his university degrees from the University of California, Berkeley. He received the 2018 Haas Award from UC Berkeley, the 2022 Spirit of Salam Award from the ICTP (Trieste, Italy), and the 2023 Award for outstanding contributions to the profession of energy economics from the IAEE.
Dr. Manal Abdel Samad
Public Policy Consultant and Former Minister of Information, Lebanon
Dr. Manal Abdel Samad is a Senior Advisor in taxation, financial, and public policy with
extensive experience at multinational organizations and a former Minister of Information in
Lebanon. She holds a PhD in law with high distinction from Paris 1 University, Panthéon–
Sorbonne, and an MBA with high distinction from the American University of Beirut (GPA 4/4). She completed an executive program in taxation at Harvard Kennedy School and is a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society.
Dr. Manal is actively engaged in advancing women's empowerment and gender equality and has been nominated by the OECD to join an international Women Leaders in Tax Transparency group. Recognized by the International Human Rights Commission (UN ECOSOC) with a “High-Level Certificate” in 2022, she was honored for her dedication to public service with integrity.
With 27 years of experience, Dr. Manal has held several high-ranking positions within
Lebanon’s Ministry of Finance, including as a pioneering member of the VAT Implementation Team and a contributor to Lebanon's BEPS framework under the OECD/G20. Since 2022, she has served as a senior tax advisor in the Gulf region, managing strategic projects, particularly in Saudi Arabia.
In academia, Dr. Manal teaches taxation, leadership, and strategic planning at the American University of Beirut and Saint-Joseph University. She also contributes to the Arab Regional Tax Forum and is an IMF-nominated Lead TADAT Assessor, leading her first mission in Tunisia in 2018.
As Minister of Information, she advanced transparency, supporting Lebanon's financial recovery initiatives and promoting reforms, including the Access to Information Law and the Anti-Corruption Strategy. Dr. Manal launched campaigns on public awareness and media freedom, notably securing Beirut’s designation as the “Arab Media City for 2023.”
Dr. Manal is fluent in Arabic, English, and French.
Dr. Said Nachet
International Relations Director at Institute Français du Petrole (IFP) Energies Nouvelles and the Director of the Paris Energy Club
Dr. Said Nachet is the International Relations Director at Institute Français du Petrole (IFP) Energies Nouvelles and the Director of the Paris Energy Club. He was the Director of the International Oil Summit and the International Gas and Electricity Summit, both held in Paris. He was Energy Director of the International Energy Forum (IEF, Riyadh), Professor at Paris School of International Affairs (PSIA) and IFP School. He also served as Energy Advisor at the French Ministry of Economy, Finances and Industry.
Dr. Ahmed Badr
Director, Project Facilitation and Support, International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)
Ahmed Badr is the Director of the International Renewable Energy Agency’s (IRENA) Project Facilitation and Support division. The division offers members dedicated project implementation support. Mr. Badr joined IRENA in April 2020 and brings more than 30 years of international experience in the field of banking and finance to the Agency.
In his role, Mr. Badr is tasked with leading the development of the division by building strong lines of cooperation with development banks and international financial institutions. He also spearheads IRENA’s implementation of the Climate Investment Platform, a multi-stakeholder platform established in partnership with SEforALL, the UNDP and in coordination with the Green Climate Fund, which has the objective to streamline access to climate funding for developing countries and advance the deployment of renewable technologies. He also manages IRENA’s ongoing relationship with the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development.
Mr. Badr also leads the execution of the Energy Transition Accelerator Financing Platform (ETAF). ETAF is a multi-stakeholder climate finance solution which aims to accelerate energy transitions by directing at least USD 5.0 billion by 2030 into renewable energy projects in emerging economies.
Prior to joining IRENA, Mr. Badr held several senior operational positions in the field of climate change, renewable energy, energy efficiency, water and infrastructure projects in a number of multinational financial institutions, including the World Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, European Commission (EuropeAid), and Japan Bank for International Cooperation.
Mr. Badr is a certified infrastructure project manager, with a B.Sc. in Civil Engineering and master’s degree in Infrastructure Economics from the Universite de Nantes, France.