The Strategy& think-tank in the Middle East

Ideation Center

The Ideation Center is the leading think tank for Strategy& in the Middle East. We aim to promote sustainable growth in the region by helping leaders across sectors translate socioeconomic trends into actions and better business decisions.

Featured

Generative AI to augment behavioral research

Behavioral researchers are exploring if LLMs like GPT can serve as synthetic participants by answering surveys like humans.

The next wave of growth: How to unlock $87 trillion in global productivity gains

Explore how Strategy&'s Productivity Potential Index (PPI) redefines productivity, unlocking $87T in global gains through data-driven insights.

Time to thrive: Urban resilience shifts from trend to necessity

The urban resilience framework assesses a city's exposure to hazards, vulnerabilities, and institutional capacities to respond, recover, and transform. Explore our interactive tool.

Sustainability in the built environment [The experience]

In the MENA region, each construction challenge is now an opportunity for sustainable innovation. It’s a renaissance of the built environment. Experience the shift through our interactive journey.

Focus areas

11/02/25

The next wave of growth: How to unlock $87 trillion in global productivity gains

Explore how Strategy&'s Productivity Potential Index (PPI) redefines productivity, unlocking $87T in global gains through data-driven insights.

22/11/23

Sustainability in the built environment [The experience]

In the MENA region, each construction challenge is now an opportunity for sustainable innovation. It’s a renaissance of the built environment. Experience the shift through our interactive journey.

14/11/23

Sustainability in the built environment [The report]

Beyond bricks and mortar: MENA's $2T construction wave promises a sustainable future, enriched communities, and local empowerment.

08/08/22

The business sentiment survey

COVID-19 has been daunting, but businesses have plans. And with government policies tuned to support them, they can emerge far more agile and resilient than before.

24/03/25

Generative AI to augment behavioral research

Behavioral researchers are exploring if LLMs like GPT can serve as synthetic participants by answering surveys like humans.

25/02/25

Six superpowers of storytelling

Strong, cohesive narratives inspire and unite. Explore how the science of storytelling offers practical solutions for impactful citizen engagement.

13/02/23

Moonshot MENA

What might the future hold, when science and tech have outpaced our imagination? Moonshot MENA looks 20 years ahead.

23/11/21

Moving beyond the transactional

Customers have moved beyond the transactional, often valuing the purchase experience more than the product itself. The pressure is on for businesses to deliver more personalized offerings. So how can they innovate, adapt, and thrive?

11/02/25

The next wave of growth: How to unlock $87 trillion in global productivity gains

Explore how Strategy&'s Productivity Potential Index (PPI) redefines productivity, unlocking $87T in global gains through data-driven insights.

11/03/24

Time to thrive: Urban resilience shifts from trend to necessity

The urban resilience framework assesses a city's exposure to hazards, vulnerabilities, and institutional capacities to respond, recover, and transform. Explore our interactive tool.

14/02/24

In search of productivity: The next $50 trillion in the global economy

This microsite on the productivity potential index puts forward a new way of measuring productivity in a robust, green, equitable, and socially responsible way.

05/01/24

Potential and pitfalls in industrial policy

State-led diversification, if implemented properly, has the potential to unlock significant value for Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

25/02/25

Six superpowers of storytelling

Strong, cohesive narratives inspire and unite. Explore how the science of storytelling offers practical solutions for impactful citizen engagement.

14/05/24

Origins of behavioral biases and how to overcome them

The STEM framework captures the four drivers of human behaviour: society, thoughts, emotions, and motivation.

11/03/24

Time to thrive: Urban resilience shifts from trend to necessity

The urban resilience framework assesses a city's exposure to hazards, vulnerabilities, and institutional capacities to respond, recover, and transform. Explore our interactive tool.

09/11/21

Making healthcare systems resilient: An action plan for the next decade

The COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced the fact that healthcare systems around the world were poorly prepared to meet the demands of their populations. Governments, regulators, and healthcare providers must work together to make systems more robust.

The team

Dima Sayess

Partner with Strategy& and lead of the firm’s Ideation Center in the Middle East.

Dr. Mark Esposito

Senior Advisor with the Ideation Center at Strategy&.

Melissa Rizk

Foresight lead of the Ideation Center at Strategy&.

Dr. Robin Schnider

Behavioral economist with the Ideation Center at Strategy&.

The board

17/05/23

Dr. Raed Kombargi

Partner with Strategy& and leader of the firm’s Energy, utilities, and resources practice in the Middle East.

31/12/12

Stephen Anderson

Clients and Markets Leader at PwC in the Middle East, and member of the PwC Middle East Executive Board.

31/12/12

Jad Hajj

Partner with Strategy& and leader of the firm’s Telecommunications, Media, Technology, and Digital practice in the Middle East.

31/12/12

Fadi Adra

Partner with Strategy& and member of the Public Sector practice.

Explore further

[Video] Time to future proof: A blueprint for holistic urban resilience

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a severe test of the ability of cities to withstand unexpected shocks. Cities in the Middle East and North Africa should respond by developing “resilience blueprints” to build the institutional capacities that can help them reduce exposure to threats and minimize vulnerabilities, capacities that will help them to respond, recover, and transform. Watch this clip to learn more, or download the study.

[Video] The 10 trends shaping the UAE’s youth sector after COVID-19

Strategy& worked with the Emirates Youth Council to identify and synthesize the top 10 trends that have been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic and that over the next decade will shape the UAE’s youth, who are aged 15-35 and are 50 percent of the UAE population. By understanding these trends, the relevant entities can tailor the right policy responses to each trend, thereby adequately supporting UAE youth to overcome the challenges they face and create socioeconomic opportunities. Watch this clip to learn more, or download the study.

Watch all clips

In the news

Industrial policy done right: Finding the balance to unlock value

A sustainable built environment: Seizing the Middle East’s US$2 trillion opportunity

“Moonshot MENA” report launched

Transforming the future

Sustainability trends: How to make MENA cities more resilient

Five key stages for developing the tourism sector across the Middle East

Putting the sustainable development goals at the centre of the COVID-19 pandemic response

Gulf states must get leisure, entertainment mix right

Tailoring L&E investments in GCC could generate $3.4bn annually

Using behavioural science for greater economic good

Sharing economy boom benefiting GCC businesses and consumers

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