19th Annual Bilateral Model Arab League

Similar to Model United Nations (MUN), Model Arab League (MAL) is an annual leadership development program for high school and college students across the nation. Participants take on roles of delegates in a simulated debate of the League of Arab States whereby witnessing first-hand the complexities of international policy formation. By researching their assigned countries’ foreign policy objectives, cultural norms, and socio-economic and political strategies, students increase their knowledge and understanding of the richness and diversity of the Arab World and its peoples as well as the intricacies underlying U.S.-Arab relations.

Since its inception in 2007, the Bilateral Chamber’s regional MAL conference has hosted 30 institutions including highs schools, community colleges and 4-year universities, welcoming more than 1100 student delegates from across 8 states that include: Arkansas, Alabama, Colorado, Oklahoma, New York, Texas, Louisiana, and North Carolina.

This year, we partnered with Archaeology Now and the Consulate General of Spain in Houston to host the Fernando Martínez Ávila, Director of Archaeology, The Alhambra and Generalife, in Houston for a series of public-facing talks exploring the architecture, archaeology, and enduring legacy of one of the world’s most iconic monuments.

The visit centers on a keynote address delivered to students from across the Southern United States participating in the Bilateral Model Arab League, alongside two educational programs for a cross-disciplinary audience at Rice University and the University of Houston.

Schedule of Events

• Friday, February 20th - Tour of the Ismaili Center in Houston: The Ismaili Center will host Model Arab League participants for a guided tour of the new Ismaili Center to discover stunning contemporary interpretations of traditional architecture and gardens of the Arab world.
• Saturday, February 21st - Day 1 of the Model Arab League competition and keynote presented by Dr. Martinez Avila, Director of Archaeology, The Alhambra and Generalife
  Topic: Discovering a World of Collaboration at the Alhambra:
  ‍Explore the Alhambra's rich cultural tapestry. A UNESCO site showcasing Islamic artistry with stunning geometry, calligraphy, and gardens symbolizing paradise, also highlights a historical crossroads of Muslim, Christian, & Jewish Spain. This keynote traces the Alhambra as a living space of political, cultural, and artistic exchange, examining how collaboration shaped its architecture, symbolism, and meaning across centuries.
• Sunday, February 22nd - Day 2 of the Model Arab League competition and closing ceremony.

‍