Involving Sudanese Public Figures… Israeli Organization Promotes Normalization with Emirati Funding

Sudanاorizon – Agencies
Sudanese social media users have sharply criticized an Israel-origin organization based in London, which includes numerous Middle Eastern and North African figures, many of whom are Sudanese.
Sudanese bloggers accused “MENA 2050 of advancing policies that reshape the region in favour of a global agenda they believe is anti-Islamic, which they claim the UAE leads in coordination with Israel. Means 2050 is an organization seen as an arm of the UAE working to normalize relations between Israel and Arab societies.
Critics have condemned the involvement of prominent Sudanese figures, including a former minister and a well-known diplomat, working alongside Israeli academics in MENA 2050. This may be the first public announcement of a project featuring such extensive collaboration.
MENA 2050’s members include Walaa Elboushi, Sudan’s former Minister of Youth and Sports under Abdullah Hamdok’s government; Haidar Badawi, a former Sudanese Foreign Ministry spokesperson; and other prominent Sudanese, such as Mahdi Habib Al-Sinousi, Mohammed Abu Bakr, Salwa Kamel Dalala, Taysir Mustafa, and Amina Bakheet.
Of MENA 2050’s 108 members, 35 are Israeli, with most others from Sudan, the UAE, Morocco, and a few from other countries. Sudanese bloggers noted that most Sudanese members joined after the outbreak of war in April 2023.

What is MENA 2050, and Who is Behind It?
Eli Bar-On is the mastermind of MENA 2050. He is a retired Israeli intelligence officer and former advisor to the Israeli army. He also owns a tech company in Tel Aviv and maintains strong ties with Israeli military and security institutions.
Arab academics, journalists, and activists who openly back Arab-Israeli normalization support the organization. Among them is Emirati activist Ibtisam Al-Ketbi, who recently stirred controversy by defending the UAE’s involvement in Sudan and discussing Abu Dhabi’s support for the Rapid Support Forces, citing “protecting UAE interests in Sudan” in a recorded interview.
Saudi journalist Abdul Aziz Al-Khamis, former editor of the Saudi newspaper Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, is also listed among MENA 2050’s officials in Britain and has faced criticism for statements deemed supportive of Israel and hostile to the Palestinian cause. Another Saudi journalist and activist, Najah Al-Otaibi, and Raphael Luzon, head of the Union of Libyan Jews, are also among its officials.
The organization includes prominent figures such as Moroccan environmentalist Hakima El Haite and an Egyptian doctor. MENA 2050’s records indicate that many members hold dual citizenship and often list their non-Arab nationality in their official profiles.
The organization’s listed address is 5 Brayford Square, London E1 0SG, UK.
Reports indicate that MENA 2050’s primary funding comes from the UAE. Members’ expenses are facilitated by Emirati participants and coordinated with British entities, including Jewish lobbying centres in London.
On its website, MENA 2050 describes its mission as fostering regional change in the Middle East. “We met online and in several in-person workshops in the region where members shared their hopes and fears. We agreed to unify efforts to form a regional platform to promote cooperation, shared aspirations, and a unified vision for the region by 2050, aimed at concrete steps for a better future for future generations. Our vision spans 20 sectors, such as healthcare, climate change, food and water security, education, and media, and focuses on regional development.”
Bar-On, the organization’s founder and the son of Iraqi Jewish immigrants to Israel, describes MENA 2050 as “a coalition of moderates in the Middle East and North Africa, giving a voice to those who want to lead the fight against extremism in the region and pursue regional cooperation in areas like climate change, energy, education, and women’s empowerment.