Rihla Initiative Panel Series: Gulf Investment in Green Economic Growth Across the MENA region

On September 23, 2025, the Policy Center for the New South, the Imal Initiative for Climate & Development, and the Bourse & Bazaar Foundation, will co-organize the second edition of the Rihla Initiative Panel Series under the theme of Gulf Investment in Green Economic Growth Across the Middle East and North Africa. Convened in Rabat, this event will bring together policymakers, practitioners, and researchers to explore the future of climate finance and regional cooperation on green economic growth between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and the wider Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The sessions will highlight both practical experiences and policy insights on how the region can mobilize resources, scale up investment, and build cross-border economic partnerships in sectors such as renewable energy, green industry, and sustainable agriculture. Discussions will also address challenges including fragmented regulatory frameworks, inadequate access to international climate finance, and the political economy of fossil fuel dependence. With two thematic panels, one focusing on key recommendations for policymakers with analysis from think tankers and experts, and another on case studies and success stories with policy experts and practitioners, the event will provide a platform to bridge policy and practice. The aim is to generate actionable recommendations for how Gulf financial resources and MENA renewable energy and green industrial potential can be leveraged to drive inclusive, low-carbon growth and strengthen the region’s collective leadership in the global climate effort and clean energy transition.