The meeting marks the beginning of a new phase in research and consultancy work at both the regional and international levels.
The Board of Directors of TRENDS Group held its first meeting at the Group’s headquarters in Abu Dhabi to outline the broad framework of its upcoming strategy and define the objectives of its knowledge-driven activities. The meeting marks the beginning of a new phase in research and consultancy work at both the regional and international levels.
This meeting follows a significant institutional transformation, as the organization officially transitioned from a research center to an integrated group structure at the beginning of June. The transformation reflects the maturity of the institution’s experience and its ability to keep pace with accelerating geopolitical and knowledge-based developments by adopting an integrated operating model comprising five specialized core companies.
TRENDS Group comprises five principal companies operating within a complementary framework that enhances operational efficiency and diversifies its outputs, thereby strengthening the Group’s global presence as a leading platform for knowledge production and foresight grounded in rigorous scientific analysis. The Group includes:
- TRENDS Research & Advisory
- TRENDS Global
- TRENDS Barometer
- TRENDS Observatory for Social Phenomena Studies
- TRENDS Institute for Training
This new structure reflects a strategic direction toward building a multidisciplinary knowledge ecosystem that combines scientific research, foresight analysis, monitoring and observation, global outreach, and training. Such integration enables the Group to generate, transfer, and apply knowledge to anticipate future challenges and interpret them through a scientific lens.
The transformation entails a remarkable journey of growth and expansion across various fields, necessitating a broader framework that can accommodate this rapid development and consolidate efforts into a more coherent and flexible entity. It also coincides with plans to establish branches and offices in several world capitals.
The meeting featured an intensive agenda focused on both operational and strategic priorities for the coming period. Key decisions included the approval of the Group’s plan for the second half of 2026, which is centered on development and knowledge innovation, as well as the launch of a new package of research, training, consultancy, and media initiatives designed to support researchers and stakeholders while providing sound scientific insights.
The Board also reviewed the Group’s most notable recent achievements, particularly its geographical expansion through overseas offices across continents, and discussed mechanisms to activate international institutional partnerships to consolidate further the Group’s position as a source of soft power.
Discussions highlighted the importance of showcasing the pioneering role of young talent, especially given that the Board is composed entirely of young members. In this context, the Board approved granting broader decision-making authority to the executive leadership of the Group’s subsidiary companies, ensuring greater flexibility and faster responsiveness to emerging research and scientific developments.
The meeting was chaired by Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al Ali, Chairman of the Board, and attended by Board members: Fahad Issa Al Muhairi, Mohammed Salem Al Salmi, Nasser Mohammed Al Ali, Awad Mohammed Al Breiki, Alyazia Jassim Al Hosani, Rawdha Abdullah Al Marzouqi, and Mariam Saeed Al Ketbi.
The participants expressed their appreciation for the trust placed in them and reaffirmed their full commitment to translating the Group’s ambitious plans into tangible achievements. They also stressed their dedication to supporting the management of the Group’s five subsidiary companies through a spirit of teamwork, enhancing their competitiveness and strengthening their position as a global intellectual and research beacon from which research centers and thinkers around the world can draw inspiration and knowledge.
