Abdullah Eren was born in Istanbul in 1984. He is of Western Thrace Turkish origin. He is married and a father of two children. Eren served as President of the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB) from 2018 to 2025 and was appointed President of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) on 11 November 2025.

Educational Background

He completed his undergraduate education at the Department of Sociology, Boğaziçi University. He earned his master’s degree in Diplomatic Studies from the University of Westminster in London. He is currently pursuing his PhD in Political Science.

Public and Private Sector Career

Eren has held various senior positions in the private sector. He has also engaged in academic activities and worked as a Researcher at the SETA Istanbul Office. In the realm of political activities, he served as Deputy Provincial Chairperson for Foreign Relations of the Justice and Development Party’s Istanbul Youth Branches.

In his public sector career, he held the positions of Deputy Director of the Prime Minister’s Private Office and Advisor to the Prime Minister. Following these roles, he served as Chief Advisor to the President.

Abdullah Eren (TİKA)

Term as President of the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB)

Abdullah Eren was appointed President of the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB) by Presidential Decree dated 27 October 2018. He served in this role for approximately seven years.

During this period, he led initiatives targeting the Turkish diaspora of approximately seven million citizens abroad, as well as co-ethnic and related communities stretching from the Balkans to Central Asia, the Caucasus, the Middle East, and North Africa, which include elements of Ottoman heritage. He also oversaw activities aimed at international students studying in Türkiye from around the world.

During his tenure at YTB, approximately 900 projects were implemented in 75 countries targeting co-ethnic and related communities, and 350 educational programs were organized. Commemorative programs were held for significant communities such as the Ahıska Turks, Belene Turks, Crimean Tatars, and Western Thrace Turks, strengthening historical and cultural ties with 25,000 young people. Scholarships were provided to nearly 35,000 students from the cultural geography of the Turkic world. The Türkiye Scholarships program was expanded, and the number of Türkiye Alumni network members exceeded 150,000. Over 1,000 projects received support for Turkish NGOs abroad, and initiatives such as the Evliya Çelebi Youth Bridges Program, the Diaspora Short Film Festival, Turktech, and the Hate Crimes Counteraction Portal (NESAM) were launched.

Civil Society Roles and Current Position

Eren has held active roles in civil society. He has been involved in numerous civil society organizations working on Balkan-related issues. He is a Board Member of the Health Life Foundation and Chairman of the Board of the Culture and Civilization Foundation.

Abdullah Eren was appointed President of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) by Presidential Decree dated 11 July 2025. This appointment filled the vacancy created by the removal of TİKA President Serkan Kayalar, in accordance with Articles 2, 3, and 4 of Presidential Decree No. 3.