The Annual Forum for Open Research is the flagship event of the Forum for Open Research in MENA (FORM). FORM is a non-profit initiative supporting the advancement of Open Science policies and practices in research institutions and research communities throughout the Arab world, by facilitating the exchange of actionable insights and the development of practical policies. The Annual Forum takes place in a different Arab state each year and provides a valuable arena for librarians, researchers, government policy makers, universities and international experts to discuss and debate key themes and issues relating to the development and implementation of open science policies and practices in Arab research communities.