Dr. Victor Gervais is assistant professor at the Emirates Diplomatic Academy (EDA) in Abu Dhabi. Prior to joining the EDA, he was assistant professor at the Institute of International and Civil Security (IICS) at Khalifa University and visiting researcher at the Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research (Abu Dhabi). Dr. Gervais also worked as researcher for the Kuwait Program at Sciences Po and as post-doctoral fellow at the Institut de Recherche Strategique de l’Ecole Militaire (IRSEM) in Paris. He received his Ph.D. in 2011 from Sciences Po. His doctoral thesis focused on the development of the UAE armed forces, in relation to Abu Dhabi’s state-building strategies. His main research interests focus on the international relations of the Middle East, with a particular interest in GCC states’ security and defence policies. His publications range from academic books, book chapters, and peer-reviewed articles to policy briefs and reports.