As part of its research tour in Belgium, and from inside the European Parliament, TRENDS Research & Advisory opened its virtual office in the Belgian capital, Brussels. This steps reflects the Center’s vision of strengthening its global presence and cementing its role in supporting scientific research and building bridges of communication and intellectual interaction between peoples and societies.
The new office aims to expand TRENDS’ network of communication with researchers, think tanks, and global academic and intellectual institutions. It also strengthens the Center’s role in supporting global knowledge-based dialogue, the exchange of ideas, and contributing to vital discussions on pressing global issues by building strong and sustainable ties with Belgian academic and research institutions.
The inauguration of the office was attended by Antonio López, Member of the European Parliament; Shoshana Bekerman, Director of the Inter-Parliamentary Coalition for Global Ethics; Prof. Dr. Emil Constantinescu, former President of Romania; H.E. Mohamed Al Sahlawi, UAE Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium, the European Union, and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg; and several members of the European Parliament, academics, experts, and researchers.
Initiatives, Dialogues, and Discussions
On this occasion, Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS Research & Advisory, said that the virtual office in Brussels will play a strategic role in enhancing the Center’s engagement with academic institutions, media organizations, and policy-making bodies in Belgium. He added that the office will deepen the interaction between TRENDS and the institutions of the European Union and its policy-making circles by organizing virtual briefings, joint research initiatives, dialogues between experts, and public discussions. It will also contribute to ongoing discussions on priority issues such as climate action, technological innovation, and regional security.
Analyzing European Developments
Dr. Al-Ali emphasized that the office will play a constructive role in implementing joint scientific and knowledge-based projects, knowledge exchange, and the establishment of partnerships with think tanks, universities, and policy institutes in Belgium. He added that a team of researchers based in Belgium will undertake the task of monitoring and analyzing European policy developments in areas of foreign policy, technology, and security. Their analyses will help support strategic planning for the United Arab Emirates and enhance TRENDS’ ability to keep pace with the evolving European perspectives on the Arabian Gulf issues.
The CEO of TRENDS also noted that these efforts together will help consolidate the Center’s status as a leading research institution in promoting mutual understanding between the UAE and the European Union, and contribution to global policy dialogue. He stressed that the Brussels office will support the main headquarters in Abu Dhabi through research, studies, and regular scientific reports.
Supporting Knowledge Exchange
Gina Bou Serhal, Senior Researcher and Director of the TRENDS Belgium Office, explained that the virtual office in Brussels is strategically located in the heart of Europe, near key institutions of the European Union, NATO, and other prominent international organizations. Brussels is also a vibrant hub for the diplomatic, media, and policy-making communities. She added that the virtual office reflects TRENDS’ commitment to promoting dialogue, advancing shared interests, and contributing to global policy discussions from a Gulf perspective.
She pointed that the new virtual office will seek build partnerships with leading intellectual, research, and academic institutions in Belgium to support joint studies and knowledge exchange, and enhance dialogue on shared priorities such as sustainable development, innovation, trade, and social policy. The office will also support efforts to spread awareness that deepen mutual understanding between researchers, experts, and specialists from the MENA region and Europe.
