Nadwa Al-Dawsari

Nadwa Al-Dawsari has over twenty years of field experience in Yemen and the broader Middle East. She currently serves as a Nonresident Scholar at the Middle East Institute (MEI), and a Fellow at the Center on Armed Groups. Nadwa has advised policymakers, UN agencies, development organizations, and defense institutions, including NATO. Her research has been widely published by leading think tanks in the U.S. and Europe, and her commentary and analysis have appeared in major international outlets such as The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, PBS, Bloomberg, and BBC. Previously, Nadwa served as Senior Conflict Advisor to the World Food Program, Yemen Country Director at the Center for Civilians in Conflict, MENA Advisor at Partners Global, and Senior Program Manager at the National Democratic Institute. Nadwa’s research focuses on the irregular warfare landscape in Yemen and the broader MENA region, with a particular emphasis on Iran’s threat network, Houthi operational strategies, and the role of non-state armed groups in shaping regional security. Her work also examines the impact of U.S. foreign policy, counterterrorism strategies, and international interventions on peace and security amid shifting geopolitical dynamics.