TRENDS Research & Advisory is a strategic partner in the 21st Arab Media Forum, which will be held under the patronage and presence of His Excellency General Joseph Aoun, President of the Lebanese Republic. The forum will be held from October 29 to 30, 2025, at the MEA Training and Conference Center in Beirut, under the theme Media and Sustainable Development: Partners of the Present—Alliance of the Future.

TRENDS’ participation reflects its ongoing commitment to advancing the integration between media and development and highlighting the role of knowledge and scientific research in empowering the Arab press to become an active partner in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

On the opening day of the forum, TRENDS is organizing a special session titled “Arab Media at the Heart of Sustainable Development,” by Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS. Moreover, the session will bring together Dr. Hamza Al-Mustafa, Syrian Minister of Information; Dr. Saad Al Barrak, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Oil, and Minister of State for Economic and Investment Affairs of the State of Kuwait; Dr. Nawfal Abu Ragheif, Chairman of the Communications and Media Commission of Iraq; and MP Georges Adwan, Chairman of the Administration and Justice Committee in the Lebanese Parliament.

On the sidelines of the forum, TRENDS hosts a knowledge corner featuring its latest research publications and specialized studies in the fields of media, artificial intelligence, and more.

On this occasion, Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS Research & Advisory, stated that the strategic partnership with the Arab Media Forum reflects TRENDS’ vision of building bridges between scientific research and the media sector. He emphasized that Arab media today have a historic opportunity to consolidate their developmental role by adopting a knowledge-based discourse grounded in credible information and rigorous analysis.

Dr. Al-Ali added that TRENDS’ participation in this prominent event in Beirut underscores the center’s unwavering commitment to supporting sustainable development pathways in the region and reinforces its position as a leading global research institution dedicated to producing and applying knowledge to serve societies and policymakers, particularly in the fields of media and strategic communication.

The forum’s agenda includes a series of panel discussions and events bringing together Arab ministers of information, experts, and academics to explore the intersections of media and development from multiple perspectives. The main sessions will cover key topics including “The Role of Media in Creating an Enabling Environment for Economic Development,” “Art in the Service of Development” with the participation of leading Arab artists, “Depiction of Development in Arab Media: Reality and Aspirations” with the involvement of former Arab information ministers, “The Impact of Fake News and Misinformation on Development” in collaboration with UNESCO, and “Media and Development: From Theory to Practice – Start with Yourself.” The forum will also feature an open discussion titled “Toward an Arabic Media Charter Supporting Sustainable Development”.

Additionally, the forum will feature a dedicated youth and media training program addressing topics such as digital media in the age of AI, managing news platforms, and using social media to advance development goals.