Committee Background Guide

Topic Description

This committee will be Arabic Bilingual.

Since its founding in 1945, the League of Arab States has worked to coordinate political and economic ties among its member states. Few areas test that coordination more than trade. Despite a shared language and a common history, intra-Arab trade remains a modest share of the region's total commerce, held back by tariff barriers and fragmented infrastructure. This committee asks delegates to examine the trade networks that link the Arab world and to design policy that allows goods and capital to move more freely across borders.

First, delegates will address the uneven progress of the Greater Arab Free Trade Area. While GAFTA eliminated tariffs on most goods, non-tariff barriers and weak enforcement continue to limit its impact. Delegates must consider how the League can harmonize customs procedures so that the agreement delivers on its original promise, and how disputes between members can be resolved without stalling commerce.

Second, the committee will turn to the resilience of regional supply chains. Recent disruptions in Red Sea shipping lanes and energy markets have exposed how dependent member states are on a small number of corridors and external partners. Delegates will weigh investment in ports and digital trade systems against the financing limits that many member states face.

Throughout the conference, delegates will balance national economic interest against the collective gains of integration. Solutions should be ambitious yet grounded in the political realities of a diverse bloc, where wealthy Gulf economies and lower-income members do not always share priorities. The director looks forward to debate that treats trade not as a technical question but as a foundation for Arab cooperation and shared prosperity.

Saarah Hassan - Director

Saarah Hassan is a junior at Harvard College studying Government with a secondary in Global Health and Health Policy. Originally from Mankato, Minnesota, she joined Model UN in her freshman fall and has since competed at numerous conferences across the country. Outside the collegiate circuit, Saarah has directed at HMUN, HMUN India, and HMUN Dubai. She currently serves as a Head Delegate for Harvard’s Intercollegiate Model UN Team and as the Director General for HNMUN 2027. She previously served as the USG for the ECOSOC and Spec Bodies for HNMUN 2026.

Beyond MUN, she is involved in Youth Lead the Change, Harvard Undergraduate Consulting Group, and the Arab community at Harvard. In her free time, Saarah enjoys going on walks, exploring the city, and laughing with friends and family late into the night. Saarah is incredibly excited to serve as the USG for Affairs and Direct the first Arabic Bilingual committee for HMUN Dubai 2027 and can’t wait to meet all the talented delegates!

Saleh Sultan Yassin - Director

Saleh Yassin is a student at Harvard College majoring in Electrical Engineering and Economics. Of Palestinian heritage and raised in Puerto Rico, his upbringing between two worlds sparked an early interest in international trade and cooperation. His interdisciplinary background fuels his passion for the trade networks connecting Arab economies, and he is delighted to chair the League of Arab States committee at Harvard Model United Nations Dubai 2027.

Outside the committee room, Saleh enjoys padel and following football; he eagerly awaits the upcoming World Cup to cheer for the Jordanian national team. He looks forward to meeting the delegates in Dubai, and he is hoping that the committee will serve as a welcoming space for constructive dialogue and the exchange of ideas.