19 February 2026 – The Al Habtoor Research Centre (AHRC) has announced plans to establish its European office in Budapest, marking a significant milestone in its global expansion and reinforcing its evolution into a cross-regional policy institution contributing to international policy discourse across Europe and the Middle East.
The Budapest office will operate as an integrated extension of AHRC’s existing bases in Dubai and Cairo, deepening engagement with European academic networks, policy institutions, and research ecosystems. The move advances AHRC’s strategy to strengthen its international positioning and expand cross-regional policy dialogue.
The expansion aligns with AHRC’s Vision 2026, designated as the “Year of Peace and Construction,” a strategic shift from reactive crisis analysis toward constructive governance, preventive peace frameworks, and long-term stability.
Budapest was selected for its central geographic location, vibrant academic environment, and role as a gateway between Central, Eastern, and Western Europe. The city provides a strong platform for research on emerging global challenges, including artificial intelligence governance, geopolitical economy, health and demographic transformations, and future-oriented sciences.
Rather than a symbolic geographic expansion, AHRC’s European presence reflects a deeper institutional repositioning: security must be deliberately built through foresight, cooperation, and governance innovation. Under its unified research framework, “Constructive Security for Peace,” the Centre focuses on nuclear safety, biosecurity, food security, and responsible technology governance, issues central to European policy debates.
Benefit to Budapest and Hungary
The presence of AHRC in Budapest will:
• Strengthen Hungary’s position as a hub for cross-regional policy dialogue.
• Facilitate collaboration between European universities and Middle Eastern research institutions.
• Create new opportunities for young European researchers in emerging fields such as AI governance, geopolitical economy, and preventive peace studies.
• Host panels, workshops, and conferences aligned with the Centre’s 2026 peace-building agenda.
The Budapest office will function not merely as a satellite branch, but as a platform for European participation in global research networks addressing the future of governance, stability, and resilience.
Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor on the Expansion
Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor, Founding Chairman of Al Habtoor Group, emphasized that the expansion reflects his long-standing belief that knowledge must serve peace and stability: “The world does not need more commentary on conflict; it needs constructive thinking that prevents conflict before it begins. Establishing the Al Habtoor Research Centre in Budapest reflects our conviction that Europe and the Middle East must engage in serious, responsible dialogue about the future. Peace is not accidental; it must be built deliberately through knowledge, governance, and cooperation.”
He added: “Hungary represents an intellectual gateway into Europe. And we consider it as the Al Habtoor Group’s base in Europe. We see Budapest not only as a location, but as a bridge, a meeting point where ideas from different regions can converge to build more stable futures.”
Dr. Azza Hashem on Institutional Vision
Dr. Azza Hashem, Managing Director of AHRC, noted that the European expansion reinforces the Centre’s transformation into a globally networked institution: “Vision 2026 repositions the Centre from observing crises to shaping constructive pathways. The Budapest office strengthens our access to European policy ecosystems and academic networks while preserving our unified institutional framework. Our aim is to transform foresight into early warning, and early warning into actionable policy solutions.”
She added: “This expansion will deepen interdisciplinary research, foster youth engagement, and contribute to Europe’s ongoing conversations on governance, security, and technological responsibility.”
A Global Think Tank with Regional Depth
By integrating its Dubai, Cairo, and Budapest offices under a unified institutional structure, AHRC positions itself as a cross-regional platform where European and Middle Eastern perspectives inform each other.
In a period marked by geopolitical fragmentation and technological acceleration, the Centre’s European presence underscores its commitment to building durable governance systems rather than reacting to instability.
With its Budapest expansion, the Al Habtoor Research Centre signals that peace and stability are not regional projects; they are shared global responsibilities requiring structured research, institutional collaboration, and constructive foresight.
