This book examines how artificial intelligence is reshaping higher education in the Middle East, with a particular focus on the social sciences and humanities. It addresses long standing challenges of curricular stagnation and uncertainty by exploring how AI driven change intersects with evolving forms of knowledge, teaching, and academic work. The book argues that universities need to rethink how knowledge is taught and organized rather than viewing AI as a technical solution alone. As STEM fields gain importance, the social sciences and humanities face the risk of losing relevance. This book shows how they can instead use innovation to strengthen their intellectual and public role. The book presents approaches to curriculum reform that balance global developments with local needs. Drawing on examples from Europe and Asia while grounding the discussion in the historical, cultural, and political contexts of the Middle East, it highlights the importance of critical thinking, interdisciplinary work, and cultural understanding. It examines the development of university curricula, the impact of AI on academic work, new teaching approaches such as digital humanities, and the influence of governance and academic freedom. Case examples from the Gulf, the Levant, North Africa, Iran, and Türkiye illustrate current challenges and possibilities.

This book is intended for researchers and advanced students in Middle Eastern studies, education, and higher education policy, as well as policymakers and institutional leaders concerned with the future of the social sciences and humanities in an AI driven world.

Dr. Mohamad Zreik is an eminent scholar of international relations whose research spans soft power diplomacy, political economy, migration, development studies, and the transformative role of education in the twenty-first century. He is currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Sun Yat-sen University (Zhuhai Campus), where his work examines China’s diplomatic engagement in the Middle East and East Asia. In addition, he serves as Deputy Secretary-General of the Middle East Studies Unit at the Institute of International and Regional Studies, contributing to the coordination of interdisciplinary research projects and the advancement of cross-regional academic collaboration.

Dr. Zreik has held research fellowships in Malaysia and the United Kingdom, including at the Centre for Lebanese Studies at the University of Cambridge, where he investigated the macroeconomic impact of forced migration on Lebanon’s economy. An accomplished author, he has published extensively with leading academic publishers such as Springer Nature, Palgrave Macmillan, and Taylor & Francis. His publications include Qatar’s Role in China’s Belt and Road Initiative (Palgrave Macmillan, 2025), as well as several edited volumes addressing diplomacy, soft power, and global governance. His peer-reviewed articles appear in internationally recognized journals indexed in Scopus and Web of Science, covering themes such as migration, education, digitalization, and international relations.

Methodologically, Dr. Zreik combines qualitative and quantitative approaches, with a strong emphasis on comparative and cross-disciplinary analysis. Having worked across academic environments in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, he brings a global perspective to debates on curriculum innovation, higher education reform, and the societal implications of artificial intelligence. His scholarship contributes to advancing theoretical knowledge while offering policy-relevant insights at the intersection of education, technology, and society.