A specific mission of the U.S.-Islamic World Forum is to spark dialogue across traditional lines – not simply government-to-government, for example, but between policymakers, business entrepreneurs, religious leaders, university presidents and media figures.

Plenary sessions feature keynoters and other speakers of the highest stature. Less formal working groups and roundtables are held throughout the three-day conference schedule.They give a platform to less well-known, but no less important, voices comprising a dynamic cross-section of U.S. and worldwide Muslim society.

The Brookings Institution and the Government of Qatar are joined in the belief that this dynamism, and variety of opinion from across the cultural and political spectrum, is crucial to promoting understanding of the Muslim world. It is for this reason that the annual U.S-Islamic World Forum has become the most respected, influential, and productive event of its kind.
 

A plenary session is a discussion among prominent speakers about the most pressing issues facing U.S.-Islamic World relations. Led by a moderator, this panel is open to all participants,and ends with a question and answer session.

A roundtable discussion is a small panel of experts and opinion leaders that delves into a specific topic and is intended for an intimate exchange of ideas. The discussion features short introductory remarks and a moderated question and answer session.

A working group brings together a uniquely qualified set of experts from around the world, with accomplishments and experience in fields as varied as government, business, theology, and the arts. Each group frames their discussions, to take place throughout the Forum, on a working paper drafted by the group's conveners. On the last day of the event, each group presents their findings to the participants of the entire Forum.