Biography

  Born and raised in Kuwait, I obtained my undergraduate degree in 'Finance and Financial Institutions' from Kuwait University in 2009. During my undergraduate, I have witnessed and took part in social and political mobilization movements such as changing the electoral law and women’s suffrage. Since 2009, I have worked and participated in civic and political affairs. I volunteered, joined civil societies, and eventually co-founded a Parliament Watch ‘Raqib50’ website in 2011 to promote transparency and accountability between voters and members of the Kuwaiti parliament. More on the work I do can be found here.

  Currently, a PhD candidate in Durham University, I joined the School of Government and International Affairs in October 2022 as General Sir Peter de la Billière doctoral fellow of the al-Sabah Programme.

I have completed my M.A. in Development Studies on 'Power, Participation, and Social Change' from the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) at Sussex University, Brighton, UK. 

  My PhD research project investigates legislation processes in the Kuwait National Assembly (KNA). The project aims to understand the politics of legislating and the evolution of parliamentary committees' formation in the National Assembly. Generally, the project examines the political and power dynamics of the KNA.

Other research projects: Urban Segregation in Kuwait, Youth Citizenship Education and Diwaniya, and Inclusion in Education. 

Awarded the “Kuwait Award for Excellence and Creativity” for Digital Media by the Ministry of Youth Affairs in Kuwait on the 16th of March 2021 for the work of raqib50.com

Awarded the “Franco-German Prize for Human Rights and the Rule of Law” by the Franco-German Council of Ministers as the first from the Gulf region on the 4th of Dec 2017 for the work of raqib50.com