Ninar Fawal

Program Manager and Research Associate, Middle East Program
Ninar Fawal

Ninar Fawal is a program manager and research associate for the Middle East Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Prior to joining CSIS, she was a James C. Gaither junior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and worked as a researcher and editor at the London School of Economics and Political Science, Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy, and Arab Reform Initiative, among other organizations. Ninar holds a BA in international relations and political science from the University of Toronto and MPhil in international relations from the University of Oxford.

Programs & Projects

In the News

All Ninar Fawal Content

Filter by

1 - 6 of 6 results

(Un)scripted Diplomacy?

A popular Saudi Ramadan show has an unexpected focus on China.

Blog Post by Ninar Fawal — June 4, 2025

Can Syria Recover? Why Sanctions Relief Is Not Enough

President Trump’s recent announcement to lift sanctions on Syria is an important first step, but it’s not enough. The United States and Syria’s other partners now need to clear the remaining obstacles to stability and economic recovery.

Commentary by Natasha Hall and Ninar Fawal — May 29, 2025

Babel: Translating the Middle East

Dina Esfandiary: Will Iran Make a Deal with Trump?

Jon Alterman speaks with Dina Esfandiary, Middle East Geoeconomics Lead at Bloomberg, to discuss why the U.S. and Iran are negotiating again, how Tehran’s position has changed since 2015, and the different strategies both countries are likely to pursue. 

Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman, Ninar Fawal, and Will Todman — May 1, 2025

CSIS Babel
Babel: Translating the Middle East

Craig Larkin: The Politics of Memory, From Mosul to Beirut to Gaza

Jon Alterman speaks with Dr. Craig Larkin to unpack different approaches taken to reconstruction and reconciliation after violence in the Middle East. 

Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman, Ninar Fawal, Martin Pimentel, and Will Todman — April 17, 2025

CSIS Babel
Babel: Translating the Middle East

Dahlia Scheindlin: Israel’s Political Turmoil

Jon Alterman speaks with Dr. Dahlia Scheindlin, a Tel Aviv-based political analyst and Haaretz columnist. Together, they discuss the sources of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s staying power, as well as his ongoing efforts to remodel key state institutions.

Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman, Ninar Fawal, and Will Todman — April 3, 2025

CSIS Babel
Babel: Translating the Middle East

Nicolas Pelham: Ahmed al-Sharaa and Syria’s Future

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Nicolas Pelham, the Middle East correspondent for The Economist. Together, they discuss his latest article, “The Great Pretender: How Ahmed al-Sharaa Won Syria,” an in-depth profile of the Syrian leader based in part on a mid-February interview. 

Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman, Ninar Fawal, and Natasha Hall — March 20, 2025

CSIS Babel