Vali Nasr: Middle East, How Leaders Should Operate in Unpredictability | EDGE 2026
Geopolitics
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22-Apr-2026
In this EDGE - Beyond The Stage 1:1, Vali Nasr explains how the Middle East is being reshaped by two forces at once: ambitious geo-economic plans built on trade corridors, artificial intelligence and data centers, and the destabilizing reality of expanding wars across the region. He breaks down why the “old order” is over, what that means for Iran, Israel, and the Gulf, and why CEOs can no longer treat geopolitics as a side issue. His takeaway is clear: leaders are operating in a more unpredictable environment, and the time horizon for business forecasting is getting shorter.
Takeaways:
• “the old order in the Middle East is gone” - the balance of power is shifting and still unsettled.
• CEOs must factor geopolitics into core decisions because regional conflict can quickly disrupt trade and markets.
• Businesses are operating with “unpredictability with much greater risk” and a shorter forecasting horizon.
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