Arab AI Research Collective
MEHBARAمحبرة
An open reading group for Arab AI researchers and students.
One paper, read closely and discussed properly, every two weeks. Each session ends with the same question: is there something here worth investigating together?
Vision
An open and collaborative Arab AI research ecosystem in which researchers and students learn, collaborate, conduct rigorous research, and contribute to global scientific knowledge.
The path we want every member to be able to take
- Student
- Learner
- Contributor
- Researcher
- Mentor
Mission
From knowledge to research
- Connect Arab AI researchers, engineers and students across institutions and countries.
- Make high-quality AI research more accessible through open reading and discussion.
- Turn discussions into concrete research questions, and questions into collaborations.
- Promote open research and reproducibility, and support early-career researchers.
What it is
A reading group that takes papers seriously
MEHBARA brings together researchers, engineers and students from across the Arab world and the diaspora to read AI research together. Sessions are online, 45–75 minutes, in Arabic or English, and open to anyone who wants to think carefully about the work.
The name means inkwell (محبرة): the vessel from which knowledge flows to the page.
- The paperThe presenter walks through the problem, method, experiments and results.
- The critiqueAssumptions, evaluation, limitations and reproducibility, discussed openly.
- Open questionsEvery question the paper leaves open is written down and shared.
- What nextIs there a question here worth investigating together?
Themes
What we read
Any strong AI paper is welcome. These are the areas we expect to read most, with a particular interest in work that matters for Arabic and the region.
You can present your own paper or one you think others should read.
Apply to present
Lead a session
Present a paper you wrote, or one you think deserves a close reading. We reply within a week.
- The paper: title and link
- A few lines on why it is worth discussing
- Its theme, and your preferred language and slot
- Whether the session may be recorded
The application form opens soon
Check back shortly, or write to us in the meantime.
Open the application form Email usStay connected
Never miss a session
Sessions calendar
Follow MEHBARA on Luma to get an email when a session is announced, register in one click, and receive a reminder with the joining link.
Coming soon