Organizational Background

The Arab Economic Forum (AEF) is a non-profit institute established in 2012 that implements projects that aim to lead to a substantial change in the economic and social status of Arab society in Israel and accompanies those projects with evaluation and socio-economic policy research of Arab society in Israel. Noting its impressive track record, expertise, impact and commitment to economic development, The National Council of Arab Mayors in Israel and High Follow-Up Committee for Arab Citizens of Israel have recognized AEF as their representative for work on social and economic issues.

The Forum is directed by Dr. Sami Miaari, Prof. of Economics at Tel Aviv University and Yale University with a Board of Trustees composed of academics and well-known Jewish and Arab public figures from Israel and from abroad (see appendix A) which sets the policy of the Center, approves its programs and its budget, and supervises the implementation of programs. The AEF has no party or sectarian affiliation.

The Difficult Economic Situation of the Arab Israeli Sector Need

The Israeli Arab population has difficulty integrating into the employment sector in Israel. Israeli Arab households have low incomes and standard of living relative to Jewish households. The gross monthly income of Arab Israeli households was 7,821NIS in 2021, compared with a monthly income of 11,635 NIS among the Jewish population.

The difficult economic situation of the Arab population in Israel stems from several key factors: 1) They live in peripheral regions with limited employment opportunities, forcing them to work outside their localities, often as blue-collar workers. 2) In most Arab households, there is typically only one breadwinner, usually the man, leading to lower average per capita incomes compared to Jewish families with two earners.

The Arab Economic Forum’s Vision and Theory of Change and What We Do

The (AEF) envisions greater equality and economic prosperity for Arab citizens of Israel. To achieve this, the AEF leverages research and analysis to equip key stakeholders – government, local authorities, businesses, and households – with the knowledge, skills, and tools needed to advance socio-economic equality. The AEF provides consultations, training, networking, policy recommendations, and original research to support Arab communities, local authorities, businesses, women, and youth.

The Forum holds conferences, seminars and workshops to present the research and discuss its results in cooperation with decision makers, officials, businesspeople and with the active participation of the academic and research society (see examples: We publish a quarterly report “Monitoring the Socio-Economic Situation of Arabs in Israel” which provides comprehensive data and analyses on the level of social and economic development in society in key areas that require attention such as education, employment, local authorities, poverty, and housing. We collaborate with relevant entities such as the Central Bureau of Statistics and the Ministry of Finance to analyze the surveys and statistics and produce designated indicators that will help predict future development trends and plan the policy-building process. The results are published on a dedicated website and are widely disseminated in order to increase public awareness and the participation of civil society institutions in the policy-making process (https://arab-forum.org/). These activities encourage the integration of the local Arab economy into the modern and global economy, which will enable the free transfer of knowledge and technology; benefitting the economic development of Arab society.

What is unique about The Arab Economic Forum?

The AEF serves as a professional umbrella for the largest Arab businessmen and entrepreneurs national association in the Arab community. The Forum has a strong local standing, with most of our funds coming from members of the Arab society itself. Forum has taken a leading role in supporting the Arab Palestinian community as it navigates the global pandemic, providing tailored, expert advice for families and businesses through our website (http://arab-forum.org/covid2020/). Meanwhile, in response to another epidemic that has swept the Arab society, violent crime, the Forum has established a team of researchers to conduct the first full-scale study to examine the causes of the proliferation of crime, and to provide solutions. 

We have also attracted several high-profile partners, including Deloitte, Bank Hapoalim, ‘ Bank Mizrahi, Bank Mercantile, Calcalist, Fisher Bahar, and Globes, with whom we organized a nationwide conference on the economic potential of the Arab community and coordinated various other events, including workshops for Arab businesswomen. 

The Arab Economic Forum (AEF) serves policymakers, businesses, and the media, providing policy recommendations to integrate Arab women into the labor market. During the Gaza war, the AEF increased field activities, offering tailored training on crisis management, business survival, and economic stability for employees, franchisees, and owners. The AEF also established a regional committee to bridge the business community with essential information, using appropriate language and media to help businesses prepare and adapt, contributing to the rehabilitation and growth of Arab communities during emergencies. The AEF’s work is enabled by the generous support of Israeli businesspeople, and it seeks continued partnership to advance the economic and social development of Arab communities in Israel.