In May 2024, faculty and students from the Center for West Asian and North African Studies at the International Institute for Area Studies (IIAS) of Tsinghua University conducted academic exchange activities in the UAE. Led by Dr. Duan Jiuzhou, Assistant Director of IIAS and Director of the Center for West Asian and North African Studies, the team consisted of three assistant researchers and two doctoral students. They engaged in three weeks of productive internal discussions, corporate research, visits to research institutions, and academic conferences.

During the internal discussions, faculty and students from the IIAS exchanged views from different perspectives on the complex historical and contemporary landscapes of the West Asian and North African region. They also shared insights into the history, politics, economy, society, and cultural trends of their respective research target countries. These discussions fostered complementary academic research, enhancing the center's comprehensive understanding of the region and exploring future development directions for the center.

During the academic exchange, the team organized and participated in the inauguration ceremony of the Sharjah Field Station of the IIAS at Tsinghua University and the seminar on "Social Development and Sustainability in the Global South from the Perspective of New Developmentalism." They also visited several departments at the University of Sharjah, the International Studies Department at the American University of Sharjah, and the Emirates Policy Center. Throughout these visits, they participated in a series of academic forums, engaging in dialogues with local students and scholars to gain an in-depth understanding of the current state of higher education and academic research in the Gulf Arab countries.

The team conducted field visits to Dubai, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, and Ajman to study immigration culture, interacting with local communities to understand the history, culture, local languages, economic conditions, and social life of the Gulf Arab countries. In the old town of Dubai, they interviewed South Asian migrant workers to gain deeper insights into the economic structure and international trade of the Gulf Arab states. These firsthand interviews allowed the team to observe and study the cross-regional interactions between West Asian and North African and the Global South from a macroeconomic perspective, providing a profound on-the-ground understanding of the political, economic, and cultural realities and trends of today's global regions.

During this academic exchange, the team also visited several Chinese institutions in the Gulf Arab states. Through these visits, they gained a deeper understanding of the political and economic situation in the UAE, broadened their international perspectives, and strengthened their understanding of China-Arab cooperation and people-to-people connectivity. These collective research activities enhanced the connections between the IIAS and relevant institutions in the UAE, laying a solid foundation for further research and exchange in the region.