TRENDS Research & Advisory has won the Award for Best Emirati Book in the Field of Studies for its publication The Pearl Era: From Poverty to Prosperity – The Journey of the United Arab Emirates from Pre-Pearl Days to the Post-Oil World. The award was presented as part of the 2025 Sharjah International Book Fair Awards, organized by the Sharjah Book Authority to honor authors and publishers who have enriched the regional and global cultural landscape through outstanding literary, research, and creative works. The center was also honored for its role as the research partner of the 44th edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair.

This achievement recognizes the significant scientific, research, and intellectual efforts of TRENDS Research and Advisory to advance global cultural development. It also reaffirms TRENDS’ status as one of the most prominent and pioneering think tanks that supports culture, knowledge, and creativity at both the regional and international levels.

Strategic Lessons

The book documents the economic, social, and political cycles that the region has experienced — from its reliance on pearls as a primary financial resource to the discovery of oil and the establishment of the modern state. It analyzes the historical phases that shaped the foundations of the United Arab Emirates, from the pre-pearl era through the rise of the oil age, including the localization and flourishing of the pearl industry in the region.

The book carries a profound message about how to face future challenges with confidence. It calls for celebrating the last barrel of oil with enlightened awareness rather than fear of resource depletion, emphasizing the importance of drawing inspiration from the core values that shaped the Gulf identity — patience, perseverance, and solidarity.

Supporting Culture and Knowledge

Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS Research & Advisory, stated that winning the Best Emirati Book in the Field of Studies for “The Pearl Era: From Poverty to Prosperity” is not merely a tribute to a single book, but rather an affirmation of the Center’s vision to support culture and knowledge, and to promote a culture of purposeful scientific research grounded in objective analysis and forward-looking insight.

He added that this recognition highlights TRENDS’ vital role in documenting the region’s journey and presenting it as a model worthy of study and analysis for current and future generations, as well as for researchers worldwide.

Dr. Al-Ali emphasized that the Sharjah International Book Fair Awards are among the most prestigious cultural awards in the Middle East, making TRENDS’ achievement all the more significant. It reflects the great confidence placed in the Center’s intellectual and research output and reaffirms its global mission as a leading platform for promoting enlightened thought and rigorous scientific study. The award also underscores TRENDS’ contribution to enriching both the Arab and global knowledge libraries with valuable academic and intellectual works.

Bridging Past, Present, and Future

The CEO of TRENDS affirmed that this recognition is significant as it aligns with the Center’s commitment to documenting and analyzing civilizational experiences through rigorous scientific methods. He explained that “The Pearl Era” represents a research-based and documentary attempt to read the past with awareness, understand the present with precision, and envision the future with confidence.

He concluded that this achievement will serve as a powerful incentive for the Center to continue producing high-quality studies and research that enrich human knowledge and provide inspiring, forward-looking insights that contribute to the progress and prosperity of societies. It also reinforces TRENDS’ vision of continuing to nurture a culture of scientific research among younger generations and to support purposeful knowledge.