TRENDS Research & Advisory inaugurated its new Dubai headquarters to enhance its role as a global think tank and foster broader partnerships with research, academic, and political institutions worldwide through dialogue and knowledge exchange. TRENDS held an opening ceremony at its new Dubai office, highlighted by a lecture on the State of Global Peace 2025 delivered by Serge Stroobants of the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP).

His Excellency Liang Jin, Director General of the Chinese Consulate General in Dubai, His Excellency Liu Zeyu, Chinese Consul in Dubai, Colonel John Pumphrey, Defence Attaché at the Embassy of Canada in the United Arab Emirates, Colonel Nikolai Abildgaard, Defence Attaché at the Embassy of Denmark in the UAE, Colonel Marc Bouthé, Defence Attaché at the Embassy of Belgium in the United Arab Emirates, and Lieutenant Colonel James Fedevich, Deputy Defence Attaché at the Embassy of Canada in the United Arab Emirates attended the inauguration and lecture.

A Global Intellectual Platform

Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al Ali, CEO of TRENDS Research & Advisory, stated that the new Dubai office is the first of several planned international offices, aimed at promoting academic research and building key strategic partnerships. He highlighted that the inauguration aligns with TRENDS’ vision to develop from a regional research institution into a global intellectual platform through strategic vision, technology investment, and international collaborations.

Dr Al Ali noted that traditional research centres that focus solely on publishing are outdated. The most relevant think tanks now combine technology and knowledge, attract global talent, engage with young minds, and collaborate with international partners. The office will help shape the intellectual landscape by offering insights into global issues such as energy security, digital transformation, and climate change.

An Ambitious Strategy

Fahd Al Mehri, Head of TRENDS Dubai Sector, said TRENDS launched its Dubai office in March 2022 as part of an ambitious global strategy to open offices in major cities. The goal is to make TRENDS a leading global think tank and expand its network with research, academic, political, and intellectual institutions through scientific dialogue and knowledge exchange.

Al Mehri added that the office supports TRENDS’ regional and international presence and backs its global vision of expanding research, knowledge, and media partnerships. It fosters collaboration between TRENDS and academic institutions, providing a key link to the world and advancing its leadership ambitions.

Three Years of Achievements

Ali Abdullah Al Ali, Director of the TRENDS Dubai Office, reported that in three years, the office has significantly expanded TRENDS’ academic and research network to over 400 institutions, finalized more than 70 cooperation agreements, and produced upwards of 1,600 research and media outputs, demonstrating measurable success.

Al Ali said the office delivered over 900 specialized reports, more than 2,000 knowledge posters, and 400 video scripts. It also organized or joined about 200 international events and broadened global engagement. With the move to a new headquarters after three years, TRENDS Dubai Office renews its commitment to further achievements.

Global Conflict Dynamics

In his lecture on the State of Global Peace 2025, Serge Stroobants described how global peace trends are influencing the rapidly evolving international environment. He explained that the Global Peace Index 2025 measures international conflict, economic impacts of violence, and growing risks worldwide.

Stroobants said the Global Peace Index assesses peace in 163 countries using 23 indicators that cover societal safety, ongoing conflict, and militarisation. The 2025 findings show global peace is at its lowest since the Index began, with pre-conflict conditions at their worst since World War II.

Rising Geopolitical Tensions

Stroobants stated that the Global Peace Index shows rising deaths from conflict, intensifying geopolitical struggles, increasing competition among powers, and new advancements in warfare technology. These issues, along with higher debt in fragile nations, raise new global stability risks.

He also discussed the Positive Peace Index, which measures attitudes, institutions, and structures that sustain peace. From 2013 to 2022, more countries improved than declined, with Positive Peace rising by 1 percent. Major gains were observed in information flow, equitable resource distribution, and investment in human capital, indicating that progress is possible through sustained investment, despite rising tensions.