Firas Maksad

Firas Maksad is a respected geopolitical analyst, policy advisor and keynote speaker specialising in the politics and international relations of the Middle East. He is best known as Managing Director for the Middle East & North Africa practice at Eurasia Group, where he leads analysis of regional geopolitics and US foreign policy strategy. Through his work advising global organisations, governments and media networks, Firas has become a leading voice explaining the complex political dynamics shaping one of the world’s most strategically important regions.

Firas built his expertise through strong academic foundations and early exposure to global diplomacy. He completed a BA in Political Studies at the American University of Beirut, a university long recognised for producing influential political thinkers and policymakers across the Middle East. Seeking to deepen his understanding of international affairs, he later moved to the United States to study at Georgetown University, where he earned a Master of Science in Foreign Service alongside an honours certificate in international business. During the early stages of his career, Firas gained valuable experience working on Middle East policy as a research associate supporting senior diplomatic leadership in Washington. This exposure helped shape his understanding of how political decisions made in global capitals directly affect the region. He later joined Eurasia Group as a Middle East Political Risk Analyst, producing detailed political and economic intelligence reports for multinational clients seeking to understand the region’s shifting political environment.

As his career progressed, Firas established himself as an influential policy expert and strategic advisor. He founded Global Policy Associates, a consultancy dedicated to strengthening US and Middle East relations while helping organisations navigate political risk and international policy. His expertise led him to a leadership role at the Middle East Institute, where he served as Senior Director for Strategic Outreach and Senior Fellow, helping shape policy discussions and public understanding of the region’s geopolitical challenges. Alongside his policy work, Firas has made significant contributions to academia as an Adjunct Professor at George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs, where he teaches graduate courses covering the Arab Israeli conflict and the politics of Syria and Lebanon. His insights regularly appear in influential publications including the Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Foreign Affairs and Foreign Policy, while global broadcasters such as CNN, BBC, Bloomberg and CNBC frequently invite him to provide expert commentary on geopolitical developments.

As a keynote speaker, Firas offers organisations a rare perspective drawn from decades of geopolitical research, policy engagement and academic teaching. He speaks on topics such as Middle East geopolitics, US foreign policy, regional power competition and the economic implications of global political instability. Firas helps audiences understand how events in the Middle East influence energy markets, international security and global business strategy. His talks translate complex geopolitical issues into clear insights that corporate leaders, policymakers and investors can apply when planning for uncertainty. With tensions, alliances and economic shifts continually reshaping the region, Firas provides the context and strategic understanding that organisations need to navigate an increasingly unpredictable global landscape.