The Rihla Initiative derives its name from the 14th-century travelogue of Ibn Battuta, The Rihla, which symbolises the historical ties between the Gulf and the Global South.

The initiative maps new pathways for climate transition and economic prosperity. The initiative is founded on the principle that young professionals are uniquely positioned to drive an ambitious climate agenda for the Gulf states and countries in the Middle East and North Africa, Central Asia and the Caucasus, South and Southeast Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa.

The Bourse & Bazaar Foundation (B&BF) launched the Rihla Initiative for Green Economic Growth in spring 2025 to advance cooperation on climate transition and sustainable economic development among policy, commercial, and technical leaders from the Gulf and the Global South.

Featured
Rihla Initiative Policy Forum
Nov 2
Featured
Southbound:

This edited volume brings together twenty-one policy briefs authored by members of the Rihla Policy Council across five geographies: the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the wider Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Central Asia and the Caucasus, South and Southeast Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa.

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Rihla Panel Series

Upcoming Events
Rihla Initiative Panel Series - Central Asia and the Caucasus
Oct 8
Rihla Initiative Panel Series - Central Asia and the Caucasus
Rihla Initiative Panel Series - South and Southeast Asia
Oct 2
Rihla Initiative Panel Series - South and Southeast Asia
Rihla Initiative Panel Series - Sub-Saharan Africa
Sep 29
Rihla Initiative Panel Series - Sub-Saharan Africa
Rihla Initiative Panel Series - Middle East and North Africa
Sep 23
Rihla Initiative Panel Series - Middle East and North Africa
Rihla Initiative Panel Series - Gulf
Sep 15
Rihla Initiative Panel Series - Gulf

Insights

Insights
Gulf Critical Minerals Playbook Offers Lessons for Central Asia
Gulf Critical Minerals Playbook Offers Lessons for Central Asia

Aruzhan Meirkhanova

Rihla Initiative Policy Council Member for Central Asia and the Caucasus

August 15, 2025

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GCC and ASEAN Expand Collaboration on Climate Investment
GCC and ASEAN Expand Collaboration on Climate Investment

Nguyen Dang Dao

Rihla Initiative Regional Coordinator for South and Southeast Asia

June 10, 2025

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Gulf Investors Plug Into Solar Projects in Egypt, Jordan, and Morocco
Gulf Investors Plug Into Solar Projects in Egypt, Jordan, and Morocco

Ashraf Abdel Rahman

Guest Contributor

May 12, 2025

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As Corporate America Makes Green Retreat, GCC Firms Should Hold the Line
As Corporate America Makes Green Retreat, GCC Firms Should Hold the Line

Naser Alsayed

Policy Fellows, Rihla Initiative

March 31, 2025

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Uzbekistan’s President Hopes a Decree Will Spur Green Economic Growth
Uzbekistan’s President Hopes a Decree Will Spur Green Economic Growth

Shakhlo Kamaladinova

Rihla Initiative Regional Coordinator for Central Asia and the Caucasus

March 25, 2025

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Uzbekistan's Energy Transition Depends on Systematic Reforms
Uzbekistan's Energy Transition Depends on Systematic Reforms

Louis Skyner

Rihla Initiative Implementation Council Member for Central Asia and the Caucasus

February 1, 2025

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New Climate Financing Targets Present Opportunity for the Gulf
New Climate Financing Targets Present Opportunity for the Gulf

Matthew MacGeoch

Policy Fellow, Rihla Initiative

December 4, 2024

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Policy Briefs

The Rihla Handbook

Handbook
The Rihla Handbook
The Rihla Handbook

The Rihla Handbook: A Guide to Accelerating Gulf Climate Finance in the Global South

(September 2025)

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