AUIB and Gallup to build Iraq's first National Leadership Institute

BAGHDAD — The American University of Iraq – Baghdad and Gallup announced on July 8, 2026, a long-term partnership to establish a permanent National Leadership Institute at AUIB, which they describe as Iraq's first.

The partnership builds on a memorandum of understanding signed in London on June 10, 2026, by AUIB's founder, Dr. Saadi Saihood, and Gallup's chairman, Jim Clifton. Alongside the institute, a new research center affiliated with AUIB will bring Gallup's expertise in opinion research, analytics, leadership science and institutional assessment to Iraq.

Programs will first serve public-sector leaders, including directors-general, deputy ministers and senior civil servants, and later private-sector leaders such as entrepreneurs and business executives. They will be delivered mainly in Arabic and designed for Iraq. The two partners will co-design the curriculum, set quality standards, prepare faculty and certify leadership coaches. Once fully operational, the institute is meant to train hundreds of leaders a year; the size of the first cohorts will be announced later.

"Iraq has never lacked talent, ambition, or courage. What every nation needs is a place to grow its own leaders," Clifton said.

"For too long, Iraq's most capable people were told their futures lay elsewhere," said Dr. Saihood.

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Waraq's News Desk compiled this report in October 2026 from the source below, with the help of an AI writing tool.

Source

• AUIB: The American University of Iraq – Baghdad and Gallup Launch First National Leadership Institute in Iraq (July 8, 2026)