On the sidelines of the inauguration of the new TRENDS Research & Advisory’s Dubai Office, its Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al Ali, convened an expanded meeting with the Dubai team. The meeting aimed to review achievements in 2025 and discuss the sector’s overall plan for 2026, which reflects TRENDS’ strategy and guiding vision for its academic, intellectual, and knowledge-based work in the year ahead.
The meeting centered on TRENDS’ plans, projects, and ambitious initiatives for 2026, which will collectively seek to sustain the think tank’s leading role in knowledge production, the analysis of regional and international trends, and the presentation of scientific solutions and practical insights to address current global challenges, while expanding global cooperation and strengthening effective strategic partnerships.
Tangible Achievements
Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al Ali, Chief Executive Officer of TRENDS Research & Advisory, said that the TRENDS Dubai sector achieved tangible accomplishments across all levels in 2025, particularly by strengthening research and academic cooperation and partnerships, as well as by actively participating in regional and international events. These efforts were further reinforced by the organization of a series of major conferences, symposia, panel discussions, lectures, and workshops that made a clear, measurable contribution to advancing purposeful knowledge.
Dr. Al Ali noted that in 2026, the sector will expand into new regions worldwide to establish additional research and academic partnerships with research institutions, think tanks, and international studies centers whose visions and areas of specialization align with TRENDS’ directions and outlook. This will be accompanied by an expansion of joint research and scientific studies with think tanks, universities, and other intellectual institutions, further strengthening the exchange of knowledge, expertise, and perspectives.
Launching Joint Projects
Fahd Al-Mahri, Senior Researcher and Head of the TRENDS Dubai Sector, affirmed that in 2026 the sector will continue to strengthen cooperation with leading research centers, universities, and intellectual institutions at both the regional and international levels. This will be achieved through the exchange of expertise, the launch of joint research projects, the provision of analytical, training, and technical advisory services, and contributions to policymaking grounded in evidence and in-depth studies. Together, these efforts will further reinforce TRENDS’ role as a bridge for knowledge exchange and intellectual dialogue.
He added that the sector’s strategic plan, together with its offices and departments, aims to maximize the value of the Center’s research, scientific, and knowledge outputs and build upon them. It also seeks to expand the publication of periodic analytical reports and knowledge bulletins that examine global issues and developments through realistic analytical approaches, while offering practical, implementable recommendations and solutions.
Comprehensive Events Program
Ali Abdullah Al Ali, Director of the TRENDS Dubai Office, explained that in 2026, the office will implement a comprehensive program of scientific and research events. This will include organizing and hosting several international conferences, workshops, and symposiums focused on key issues such as the future of regional security and stability, technological transformations, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and international cooperation in addressing shared challenges such as climate change and food security, in addition to examining significant geopolitical developments and events.
He noted that the TRENDS Dubai Office team remains committed to its standards of quality and research excellence and will continue to strengthen its presence on the international research and intellectual stage. This will be achieved by advancing research tools and methodologies in line with the era of artificial intelligence, expanding partnerships, and delivering more objective strategic analyses that make a tangible impact. The office will also enhance forward-looking knowledge production that supports policymakers, enriches public discourse, and contributes to the building of more stable and advanced societies.
