TRENDS Research & Advisory signed a strategic cooperation memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government (MBRSG) on the sidelines of the 13th edition of the 2026 World Governments Summit. The MoU aims to enhance collaboration and partnerships in strategic and foresight research, as well as to launch initiatives, analytical studies, and training programs that prepare the next generation of young leaders.
The MoU was signed at the Summit venue in Jumeirah, Dubai, by H.E. Dr. Ali Bin Sebaa Al Marri, Executive President of the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government, and Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS Research & Advisory, in the presence of a distinguished group of officials, experts, and thought leaders attending the Summit.
This cooperation follows a series of constructive discussions and intellectual dialogues between the two parties, transforming the relationship from collaboration to a strategic partnership that supports sustainable development goals and enhances mechanisms for building a knowledge-based economy in the UAE, the Middle East, and globally.
Enhancing Applied Research
H.E. Dr. Ali Bin Sebaa Al Marri stated that signing the MoU with TRENDS reflects the School’s commitment to expanding its research and intellectual partnerships and strengthening its position as an active knowledge hub that supports decision-makers and policymakers in the region, consistent with its role in developing policy-related knowledge.
He explained that this partnership, signed on the sidelines of the World Governments Summit, demonstrates the School’s commitment to evidence-based applied research, linking academic outputs to the practical needs of policy-making. This helps governments address current challenges and anticipate future transformations in public administration.
Dr. Al Marri added that the MoU establishes an institutional framework for cooperation in research, policy development, knowledge exchange, and the organization of specialized scientific events, thereby enhancing the value of knowledge and supporting the development of practical, sustainable solutions that serve society while keeping pace with the rapid changes in the public sector.
Developing Leadership Capacities
Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali emphasized that the MoU with the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government aims to unify efforts and integrate roles to produce rigorous scientific research and studies, develop the capacities of young leadership cadres, and support informed policy-making.
He added that future areas of partnership between the two parties will focus on launching joint research programs, promoting scientific publishing, providing advanced training and capacity building, exchanging expertise and knowledge, and organizing a series of targeted conferences and intellectual seminars.
Building a Knowledge Economy
Dr. Al-Ali highlighted that signing this important MoU represents a qualitative shift in TRENDS’ partnership with MBRSG, which plays a pivotal role in building a knowledge economy and preparing national leaders and cadres. He noted that this fruitful cooperation will create an institutional framework to translate ideas and visions into tangible research and training projects that help prepare young leadership talent and provide practical scientific solutions to contemporary challenges, creating a measurable impact on sustainable development policies and effective governance regionally and internationally.
He concluded that signing the MoU on the sidelines of the 2026 World Governments Summit reflects the shared vision of both institutions regarding the importance of rigorous scientific research and academic collaboration in advancing development, enhancing joint knowledge production, and creating an exceptional platform for foresight and innovative policy-making that effectively responds to societal aspirations.
