TRENDS Research & Advisory has inaugurated its Knowledge Pavilion as part of the Make-it-in-the-UAE Forum and Exhibition held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) in its capacity as the forum’s Knowledge Partner. The pavilion is an integrated knowledge platform showcasing TRENDS’ latest publications and highlighting its role in supporting industrial and economic policies through scientific research and strategic consulting.
A Supportive Knowledge Role
Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al Ali, Chief Executive Officer of the TRENDS Research & Advisory, stated that the Center’s participation in the Make-it-in-the-UAE Forum embodies its role as a research and knowledge institution that places support for national industrial policies at the core of its priorities. He affirmed TRENDS’ commitment to acting as a supporter rooted in knowledge and innovation and to enhancing the role of youth as active partners in the development journey, emphasizing that empowering youth and harnessing research for industry is an investment in a prosperous and sustainable future.
Youth Dialogue Session
As part of the pavilion’s accompanying activities, TRENDS organized a distinctive youth dialogue session – Emirati Youth: Architects of the Industrial Future. The session drew attendance and engagement from young people and stakeholders, with discussions focusing on ways to empower youth to lead the future of national industry considering rapid technological and economic transformations.
Young Minds
Fahd Al Muhairi, Head of the TRENDS Dubai Office, opened the session and underscored that investing in young talent is a genuine investment in the future of sustainable industrial development. He highlighted the importance of empowering youth by providing an enabling and stimulating environment for creativity and innovation, ensuring the sustainability of the industrial renaissance the country is witnessing. He also affirmed the role of research institutions like TRENDS in framing this empowerment with knowledge and scientific analysis.
Artificial Intelligence
Eng. Essa Al Mannai, a researcher at TRENDS specializing in artificial intelligence (AI), reviewed the transformative possibilities this technology offers to modern industries. He stressed the importance of preparing a generation capable of understanding AI and adapting it to serve the industrial economy. He explained that AI goes beyond mere automation to include demand forecasting, supply‐chain optimization, and efficiency enhancement in manufacturing, which requires youth to acquire advanced digital skills. He also called for partnerships between the industrial sector and universities to provide practical training opportunities in this field.
Entrepreneurship Researcher Abdullah Al Khaja affirmed the importance of supporting industrial entrepreneurship and encouraging start‐ups led by Emirati youth, considering them a fundamental pillar for diversifying the national economy and increasing its competitiveness on the global stage. He emphasized the need to facilitate young entrepreneurs’ access to funding and professional guidance and to provide specialized industrial business incubators, especially in promising sectors such as clean technology and innovative industries. He also pointed out the importance of embracing a culture that accepts failure as part of the path to success in the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Sustainability Researcher Najla Al Madfa discussed the importance of integrating sustainability into the industrial sector, noting that today’s youth possess the enthusiasm and awareness needed to adopt green industrial practices that support the UAE’s strategic direction in this vital field. She highlighted the necessity of developing industrial models that balance profitability with environmental preservation, such as implementing circular economy principles and renewable energy in factories.
Smart Planning
Researcher Zayed Al Dhaheri emphasized the importance of leveraging big industrial data to shape policies and make strategic decisions, noting that data analysis has become a pivotal tool in developing modern industries and raising their efficiency. He pointed out the need to build precise databases and make them available to specialists, entrepreneurs, and researchers to support innovation and achieve faster responses to market challenges. He also stressed the importance of qualifying youth in industrial data analysis and the use of analytical intelligence tools.
Alignment Researcher Shamma Ahmed Al Qutba highlighted the need to align educational curricula with the needs of the industrial labor market, affirming that curriculum development must be carried out in close cooperation with the private industrial sector to ensure its relevance to professional realities. She stated that technical skills alone are no longer sufficient; soft skills such as critical thinking, teamwork, and innovation are also essential in a dynamic industrial environment. She called for flexible training platforms integrating theoretical learning with practical application inside factories and national companies.
Skills Researcher Zayed Al Briki focused on preparing youth with future‐oriented skills that keep pace with the industry’s rapid transformations. He pointed out the importance of continuous learning and encouraged young people to engage in training programs and build clear career pathways that enable them to grow within the industrial sector and contribute to its development. The session witnessed active participation from the audience, who raised diverse questions and ideas reflecting their awareness and readiness to contribute effectively to developing the national industry.
Meanwhile, the TRENDS pavilion attracted many exhibition visitors who viewed its publications and learned about its programs, research, and knowledge domains. This confirmed the vital role think tanks play in empowering youth and steering industrial policies toward a sustainable and creative future.
