Hikma Institute of Middle Eastern Affairs

History

Our institute traces its origins to July 14, 2016, during the period of the second Middle East boom, when like-minded entrepreneurs and business figures began holding regular meetings. These gatherings gradually evolved into a more structured organization aimed at sharing management information for entry into Middle Eastern countries and building networks with local Korean communities.

In August 2017, we hosted a lecture series featuring political and economic leaders from Middle Eastern countries. The following year, in July 2018, we invited young professionals from the Middle Eastern IT industry to Korea for a training program. These initiatives marked the beginning of collaborations with Korean scholars specializing in Middle Eastern studies. A shared consensus began to form on the need for both practical consulting for Korean companies entering the Middle East and support for academic research, which further accelerated the push for the establishment of the institute.

In March 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic limited companies’ overseas expansion and exchange activities, the need to overcome the situation and deepen understanding of the Middle East became more pressing. Accordingly, our institute was officially established in January 2025 through strengthened cooperation with the Graduate School of International and Area Studies at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies

Our institute traces its origins to July 14, 2016, during the period of the second Middle East boom, when like-minded entrepreneurs and business figures began holding regular meetings. These gatherings gradually evolved into a more structured organization aimed at sharing management information for entry into Middle Eastern countries and building networks with local Korean communities.

In August 2017, we hosted a lecture series featuring political and economic leaders from Middle Eastern countries. The following year, in July 2018, we invited young professionals from the Middle Eastern IT industry to Korea for a training program. These initiatives marked the beginning of collaborations with Korean scholars specializing in Middle Eastern studies. A shared consensus began to form on the need for both practical consulting for Korean companies entering the Middle East and support for academic research, which further accelerated the push for the establishment of the institute.

In March 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic limited companies’ overseas expansion and exchange activities, the need to overcome the situation and deepen understanding of the Middle East became more pressing. Accordingly, our institute was officially established in January 2025 through strengthened cooperation with the Graduate School of International and Area Studies at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies

Major Milestones

January 2025 Establishment of the Hikma Institute of Middle Eastern Affairs

July 2018 Training program in Korea for young professionals from the Middle Eastern IT industry

August 2017 Invited lectures in Middle Eastern countries by political and economic figures