To further its support for culture, knowledge, and intellectual pursuits, TRENDS Group is participating in the Sharjah International Book Fair for the seventh consecutive year. As the Knowledge Partner for the fair’s 45th edition, held under the theme Made Of Stories, the event will take place from November 4-15 at the Expo Center Sharjah. The fair will feature 2,673 publishers and exhibitors from 124 countries, along with a program of about 1,500 cultural, intellectual, and creative events.
In line with the 45th edition’s theme, TRENDS Group will craft a unique narrative that combines knowledge and academic research, creativity and innovation, and intellectual dialogue and discussion. This will be complemented by the launch of 19 new research publications — comprising both original works and translations — which will be added to TRENDS’ existing collection of over 550 books and studies.
Five Interactive Zones
The group is also organizing a series of innovative knowledge-based events, panel discussions, and inspiring cultural seminars featuring distinguished thinkers, academics, researchers, and experts. In addition, it signed several memoranda of cooperation and strategic partnerships and launched the translation of the Muslim Brotherhood Global Influence Index 2025 into English, German, Russian, and French.
The innovative TRENDS knowledge pavilion (located at L16 in Hall 6) showcases the latest scholarly and research publications across a wide range of fields. It features five interactive zones that highlight the diverse output of TRENDS’ five entities. Visitors can learn about the location of TRENDS offices across 26 countries around the world and their role in strengthening relations and intellectual communication. As well as the knowledge production and qualitative research, training and advisory services of TRENDS Research and Advisory, TRENDS Barometer, TRENDS Observatory and the TRENDS Training Institute.
Interactive Platforms for Dialogue
Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, Chairman of TRENDS Group, said that the participation of TRENDS Group, with its five companies, in the Sharjah International Book Fair as the Knowledge Partner for the 2026 edition embodies its firm vision that book fairs are not only platforms for displaying publications and introducing visitors to research output, but also interactive platforms for dialogue, living laboratories for creating ideas, building bridges between academic research and community awareness, and spacious spaces for civilized dialogue between cultures and peoples.
He explained that the knowledge partnership with the Sharjah International Book Fair—one of the most significant book fairs regionally and internationally—is rooted in a shared belief that books serve as a platform for change, and that the fair acts as a meeting point for researchers and readers, as well as for ideas and their practical application. He emphasized TRENDS’ commitment to ensuring that its participation in book fairs serves as a platform for knowledge production—rather than merely consumption—through innovative research and intellectual activities that turn its pavilion into a space for open dialogue and interaction.
Al-Ali added that participating in the exhibition for the seventh consecutive year also helps strengthen intellectual, scientific, and academic ties with the culture and knowledge community, while extending research-based thought toward new global horizons. This aims to enrich intellectual dialogue and facilitate the exchange of perspectives and ideas with experts, writers, and creative figures from diverse cultural and intellectual backgrounds across the globe.
Academic Rigor and Strategic Foresight
Mohammed Al-Salmi, Senior Researcher and Director General of TRENDS Research & Advisory, said TRENDS continues to enhance its exceptional research output by participating in the Sharjah International Book Fair as a Knowledge Partner. TRENDS is showcasing over 550 titles and launching 19 new research publications—including seven translated works—that combine academic rigor with strategic foresight. Young Emirati specialists, experts, and researchers authored these works, adding unique and substantial content to the scholarly landscape.
He noted that the new publications analyze current strategic developments, shifts in power dynamics, deterrence strategies, cybersecurity, and regional security balances. They also examine the Middle East’s current reality and future trends, alongside comprehensive studies on international competition, political economy, and monetary and banking policies.
Al-Salmi highlighted the diversity of topics and themes covered in these 19 books. Notable titles include: The Post-War Future of the Middle East: The US–Israel–Iran War 2026; Engineering National Power in an Era of Multi-Domain Competition; Soft Power and Its Role in Strengthening the UAE’s Foreign Policy; Destructive Concepts: From the Construction of Extremism to the Manufacturing of Terrorism; Cyberterrorism: The Invisible Enemy and the Reshaping of Global Security; and Strategic Leadership in Military Institutions: A Theoretical and Applied Study, among others.
An AI-Enhanced Pavilion
Rawdha Al Marzouqi, Researcher and Director of the Distribution and Exhibitions Department at TRENDS Research & Advisory, said the TRENDS pavilion (L16, Hall 6) at the Expo Center Sharjah will feature high-quality research publications, interactive AI-powered knowledge hubs, and daily intellectual events. These events will bring together a select group of researchers, thinkers, and decision-makers to discuss the state of culture and creativity in an era of evolving algorithms and digital technologies.
She emphasized that selecting TRENDS, for the second time, as a Knowledge Partner for the Sharjah International Book Fair is a testament to the trust placed in the organization’s scientific approach. It reflects a shared commitment to ensuring that Arab knowledge can craft narratives worthy of sharing with the world. The pavilion also offers visitors an opportunity to explore the extensive intellectual output of TRENDS and its five subsidiary entities, as well as its diverse range of research, consultancy, and training services.
Al Marzouqi noted that the TRENDS pavilion offers visitors a comprehensive intellectual experience—one that begins with a question and ends with tangible impact. Through its participation in major international book fairs, TRENDS aims to support culture, foster knowledge and academic research, and advance intellectual dialogue. This aligns with the organization’s steadfast institutional strategy, reflected in its publications, studies, intellectual contributions, training programs, and strategic partnerships at the regional and international levels.