Faisal Saeed Al Mutar on Ideas Beyond Borders, Entrepreneurship, and Reform in the Middle East

Atlas Network Podcast host Michael Carnuccio interviews Faisal Saeed Al Mutar, founder of Ideas Beyond Borders, about countering simplistic narratives of the Middle East by expanding access to liberty, free markets, scientific inquiry, and open debate through translation projects like House of Wisdom 2.0 and original regional content. Al Mutar describes audiences’ strongest interest in prosperity and understanding the region’s diversity, argues cultures are malleable and not destined for authoritarianism, and highlights reforms and entrepreneurial energy, including his Smart Bets-winning “Kurdistan Is Open for Business,” which helped move business registration in Iraqi Kurdistan from months to days and enabled over 7,000 registrations. He explains launching Middle East Uncovered to present nuanced, independent reporting amid lobbying and state-influenced narratives, shares examples of regional resilience, discusses personal risks and his background growing up in Iraq under Saddam and later Al-Qaeda control, and outlines a 10-year vision of a region with more visitors than escapees.Support freedom worldwide: https://www.AtlasNetwork.orgShow Notes / Timestamps00:00 Middle East Beyond Misery00:32 Meet Faisal Al Mutar02:27 Voices of Life vs Death04:59 House of Wisdom Revival07:09 Ideas People Want Most08:32 Can Liberalism Work Here12:04 Smart Bets Stage Moment14:35 Liberty Forum Advice16:37 Kurdistan Open for Business20:25 Youth Hope and Oil Curse25:30 Middle East Uncovered Mission30:48 Untold Stories That Inspire34:43 Risk and Resolve38:04 How You Can Help40:53 Does Support Move Needle44:30 Rapid Fire and Food46:53 Faisal’s Iraq Story50:35 Vision for 10 Years53:09 Closing and Call to Action