Zakir Hussain

xZakir Hussain is a political economist. He did D-Phil from Jamia Millia Islamia (Central University) New Delhi, on India-GCC Economic & Political Relations in Post-1990. Dr. Hussain has around 18 years of research experience. His association with different national and international research think tanks has deepened his understandings on diverse issues such as foreign policy, economy (trade & investment), energy, migration, maritime, water, geo-strategy and geo-politics of bilateral, regional and global trends and dynamics which helped him immensely to write reports, policy papers and analyze future geo-strategic and geo-economic trends and impact on India-GCC ties, especially Saudi Arabia and the UAE. 

For the last four years, Dr Hussain has been associated with the UAE Embassy in India to the post of senior economic researcher and analyst, writing policy papers, reports and widely interacting with prominent people both in the UAE and India. His stay in the embassy deepened his understanding of deepening partnership between India and the GCC in general and Saudi Arabia and the UAE in particular. Only the economy (trade, investment) is not the sole attraction of emerging new partnerships between the two sides. Changing global and regional dynamics too interplay on their mindsets. Being an expert on the Indian economy, Dr Hussain has a nuanced understanding of India’s growing relations both with the world and Gulf as well which can be of interest to all those countries looking towards India for better economic relations.

Dr Hussain has visited half a dozen countries, mostly invited by the state government such as the US, China, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Syria. He was also the guest speaker of the UAE’s Ministry of Economy at India-UAE Investment Summit in Dubai in 2017. He coordinated and played active role in two Track-II Dialogues between India and Saudi Arabia and learnt a lot about the bilateral potential of the two countries. DR. Hussain also focused on GCC’s look east policy and growing potential economic and political cooperation between the two regions. He participated in a number of international seminars and conferences, wrote papers on various potential areas offering opportunities of sustainable engagements. 

These foreign visits & wide interactions with experts, business people, and media bordered his vision and analytical abilities which helps him to write comprehensive and balanced reports, economic, strategic and emerging areas of cooperation. 

Dr Hussain has authored three books, two monographs, two working papers (ILO), more than three dozen articles, 13 chapters in book, four policy papers, has been involved in policy making processes at the government-level. Dr. Hussain is a hardworking, honest and dedicated researcher with rich experience and insights on bilateral, regional and global issues. His rich experience will be an asset of any organisation in the world.

He has just completed his four years assignment with UAE Embassy in India as an Economic Researcher. During his tenure in the embassy, Dr. Hussain wrote more than 400 reports on Indian economy, the UAE and GCC and all related issues helpful in signing the CEPA (Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement). The embassy has acknowledged his services. 

Dr. Zakir Hussain has two decades of research experience in national and international think tanks on India, GCC, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar on theme such as energy, migration, trade, services, investment. Has been involved in track-II dialogue between India and Saudi Arabia; widely consulted for his view by both electric and print media. Dr Hussian's expertise is in report writing, policy papers, special papers, research papers, delivering lectures both in universities and as resource person to training staff.