  This study investigates the scientific mobility and international
collaboration networks in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region
between 2008 and 2017. By using affiliation metadata available in scientific
publications, we analyse international scientific mobility flows and
collaboration linkages. Three complementary approaches allow us to obtain a
detailed characterization of scientific mobility. First, we uncover the main
destinations and origins of mobile scholars for each country. Results reveal
geographical, cultural and historical proximities. Cooperation programs also
contribute to explain some of the observed flows. Second, we use the academic
age. The average academic age of migrant scholars in MENA was about 12.4 years.
The academic age group 6-to-10 years is the most common for both emigrant and
immigrant scholars. Immigrants are relatively younger than emigrants, except
for Iran, Palestine, Lebanon, and Turkey. Scholars who migrated to Gulf
Cooperation Council countries, Jordan and Morocco were in average younger than
emigrants by 1.5 year from the same countries. Third, we analyse gender
differences. We observe a clear gender gap: Male scholars represent the largest
group of migrants in MENA. We conclude discussing the policy relevance of the
scientific mobility and collaboration aspects.

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