Helga Spitaler from the pan-European networking organisation GÉANT is the project manager of the EU co-funded EUMEDCONNECT3 and AfricaConnect2 projects that aim to provide high quality internet connectivity to Arab countries in the Eastern Mediterranean and North Africa respectively in support of international research and education collaborations, including SESAME. In addition she also liaises with NRENs in other Arba countries, including the Gulf States. Helga will present on the status of collaboration activities between GÉANT and the Arab R&E networking community in terms of connectivity and R&E community services