​This issue includes a selection of papers submitted for the special file on the governance of the defense, security, and intelligence sectors in Arab countries. This issue was proposed by Hikama Journal two years ago, with the aim of addressing a central issue that had not received sufficient attention in Arab research circles; namely, the management of this sector and the governance of its institutions from the perspective of their effectiveness and efficiency. In fact, this issue has long been overlooked in our region and treated merely as a technical or security matter, while in essence, it is a political and societal issue. Defense, security, and intelligence institutions are public institutions entrusted with safeguarding the territorial integrity of the state, protecting it from external threats, and ensuring its internal security. Therefore, their modernization and reform directly affect citizens’ lives, as well as the future of the state and its political, social, and economic trajectories.​