[MEI Flagship Event]

The U.S.–Israeli war against Iran, launched on 28 February, rapidly escalated into a broader conflict that drew Gulf states into the fray. Civilian infrastructure in Dubai, Doha, and the rest of the Arabian Peninsula was soon caught in the line of fire, transforming the crisis into a full-fledged regional war with far-reaching consequences for security, geopolitical alignments, and economic stability. Iran’s subsequent closure of the Strait of Hormuz sent shockwaves through global energy markets and threatened critical trade routes, with South-east Asia bearing the brunt of the turmoil. Against this backdrop, the Middle East Institute’s Annual Conference 2026 will convene three expert-led panels to examine the war’s global repercussions. The discussions will assess not only the immediate impact on the Middle East but also the broader implications for Singapore and the wider East and South-east Asian region.

Mr Chan Chun Sing, Singapore’s Coordinating Minister for Public Services and Minister for Defence, will open the conference.

This event was held both in-person and online via Zoom on Tuesday, 23 June 2026, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM (SGT).

Please click here for conference programme.

Get Ready to Dive Deeper than the Discussion.

Building on her insights at MEI’s Annual Conference, Assistant Professor at the Khalifa University in the UAE Li-Chen Sim argues that the Gulf’s energy shock from the Iran war holds key lessons for Asia – to read, click here.

The war on Iran exposed the limits of the old regional security order, according to President of the Emirates Policy Center Ebtesam Al Ketbi, who presents an Emirati vision for a new framework to prevent future conflicts – get into the perspective here.

Associate Professor at Zayed University in the United Arab Emirates Jonathan Fulton’s article examines how the war fast-tracked Gulf fragmentation and exposed the limits of China’s economics-first approach in the region. Explore the piece here.

Photo Caption: Smoke and fire rise from the site of airstrikes at Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran on March 7, 2026.
Israel said on March 7 it had launched “broad-scale” strikes on targets in Tehran, as the Iranian state broadcaster reported an explosion in the western part of the city. [AFP]