Launched in Beirut in 2006, where a strong and active alumni community is concentrated, the MIT Enterprise Forum of the Pan Arab Region (Lebanon) is one of the eight international chapters of the MIT Enterprise Forum, global office. Though it is headquartered in Lebanon, the Pan Arab Region chapter serves the Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf.

The MIT Enterprise Forum of the Pan Arab Region’s vision is to develop and nurture a culture of entrepreneurship across the Arab region, in view of becoming the most influential entrepreneurial network in the Arab world. This is done through building a platform for networking, knowledge sharing, showcasing, coaching and mentorship for entrepreneurs.

Since its inception, the MIT Enterprise Forum of the Pan Arab Region:

• Has been organizing and managing the yearly Arab Business Plan Competition that is now running in its fourth edition, this year (2010-2011). The competition showed great success over the past four years, receiving over 1000 applications from 17 Arab countries, yearly.
• Has been providing networking opportunities to entrepreneurs to learn and hone their skills as well as establishing networking connections with other entities who share our passion for entrepreneurship. The networking activities are fostered through three key events:
  • a. Launching ceremony
  • b. Entrepreneurship Workshop
  • c. Final Award Ceremony
  In view of ensuring a regional outreach, the MIT Enterprise Forum of the Pan Arab Region reaches out to three Arab countries each year. So far, these networking events have taken place in: Lebanon, KSA, UAE, Jordan and Egypt. 
  Usually those events are attended by entrepreneurs, high-profile business people, angel investors, venture capitalists, financiers and other key players.
• Organized a “Dean’s Roundtable” on “Entrepreneurship Development: Trends and Prospects in the Arab Region”, targeting Deans of Business Schools in the Arab countries. The aim of the Roundtable is to generate a discussion on the state of entrepreneurship in the region, and how to improve the entrepreneurial ecosystem.