Before founding Alef, Hani spent more than a decade at the New York-based political risk consultancy Eurasia Group, where he led the firm’s Middle East practice, overseeing its research and analysis. His primary coverage areas included Egypt, the Levant, Saudi Arabia, the other GCC states, and regional geopolitics.

Hani has established himself as a recognized expert in political risk through his analysis of major regional developments, including the Dubai financial crisis in 2009, the Arab uprisings from 2011–2014, political and economic developments in Saudi Arabia from 2015–2017, Lebanon’s default in 2020, and Egypt’s economic crisis in 2022. In addition to advising private clients, he regularly provides commentary on regional developments and has been quoted in outlets including Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal.

Hani has taught seminars on political risk and Middle East politics at the University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University, New York University, and the University of Montreal. Before joining Eurasia Group, he spent six years working in the human rights field, with a focus on the Middle East.

He completed graduate work at New York University and earned his undergraduate degree in political science, with high honors, from the American University in Cairo. Raised in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt, Hani speaks fluent Arabic.