The 2008 U.S.-Islamic World Forum held in Doha, Qatar, from February 16-18, 2008, was an immense success, bringing together key leaders in the fields of politics, business, media, academia, and civil society from across the Muslim world and the United States. Now in its fifth year, the Forum has become the foremost meeting for positive cross-cultural engagement among leaders from the United States and the Muslim world.

The Forum boasted a thought-provoking and in-depth agenda and was strengthened by an excellent cadre of speakers and participants from over 30 countries around the world, including: Afghan President Hamid Karzai, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, Admiral William J. Fallon, Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erakat, U.N. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzhad, Egyptian televangelist Amr Khaled, Muhammadiyah chairman M. Din Syamusuddin, Time columnist Joe Klein, former Palestinian Foreign Minister Ziad Abu Amr, Senator Evan Bayh (D-Indiana), former National Security Advisor Sandy Berger, former Assistant Secretary of State Susan Rice, Council on Foreign Relations President Richard Haass, former Assistant Secretary of Defense Peter Rodman, Professor Francis Fukuyama, and many more.

The Forum provides the foundation for a range of complementary activities designed to enhance the effectiveness of this dialogue. These include task forces and workshops of policymakers and experts, as well as associated outreach, research, and publications. The Forum continues to seek to address the critical issues dividing the United States and the Muslim world by providing a unique platform for frank dialogue, learning, and the development of positive partnerships between key leaders and opinion shapers from both sides.

In the coming days and weeks, we will be updating the website with media coverage, photos, videos, interviews, transcripts, and more on the Forum. We also intend to make this website your portal for continuing dialogue and networking for all Forum participants. We invite you to return regularly to view all of our updates and new releases.

On behalf of the entire Saban Center at Brookings, I would like to express my profound gratitude to our conveners, speakers, participants and staff for your invaluable contribution to the success of the Forum, and your ongoing involvement in the important task of promoting better relations between the U.S. and the Muslim world.

With warmest regards,

Dr. Stephen R. Grand

Fellow and Director

Project on U.S. Relations with the Islamic World

The Saban Center for Middle East Policy

The Brookings Institution