For the second consecutive day, TRENDS Group is continuing its activities and events as part of its participation in the 35th edition of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair 2026. The Group’s pavilion continues to welcome visitors, introducing them to its new corporate identity and offering the opportunity to explore more than 500 diverse research publications, along with its latest knowledge projects and initiatives.
The Group’s pavilion, designed to distinctive technical specifications and a unique visual identity, is attracting considerable interest from fair visitors. It is drawing cultural and knowledge enthusiasts into an atmosphere that brings together scholarly dialogue, the showcasing of publications, and the signing of cooperation agreements and strategic partnerships, reflecting the diversity of the fields in which TRENDS Group and its five companies operate.
Among the prominent visitors to the TRENDS pavilion were His Excellency Zaki Anwar Nusseibeh, Cultural Adviser to the UAE President and Chancellor of the UAE University; His Excellency Saadettin [Lütfullah] Göktaş, Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to the UAE; His Excellency Saeed Ali Al Fazari, Executive Director of the Strategic Affairs Sector at the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi; Dr Ahmed Al Awadhi, Director of the Emirati Genome Program; and His Excellency Rashid Al Kous, Executive Director of the Emirates Publishers Association, in addition to several officials, researchers, and academics.
The Group’s activities will continue until the fair’s conclusion, featuring dialogue sessions and research seminars, book signings, cooperation and distribution agreements, and initiatives targeting young people and students. The program will address issues related to artificial intelligence, culture, the digital economy, and political Islam.
AI and Culture: A Dialogue on Youth Opportunities and Challenges
The Youth Council platform hosted a dialogue session titled Artificial Intelligence and Culture, featuring researcher Sheikha Al Nuaimi, a member of the TRENDS Youth Council, and researcher Najla Al Madfa, a member of the TRENDS Group Youth Council. The session explored the relationship between artificial intelligence and the cultural sphere, as well as the opportunities modern technologies offer to enhance creativity and knowledge production. It also addressed the challenges of using these technologies in the cultural industries.
AI Index: Measuring the Impact of Technology
The TRENDS Group pavilion hosted the launch of the Artificial Intelligence Index, reflecting the Group’s interest in monitoring technological transformations and examining their impact across various fields. The index focuses on how the increasing use of artificial intelligence changes human behavior, thinking, learning, and decision-making.
Researchers Abrar Al Ali and Maryam Al Janbi from TRENDS Barometer said the project is based on global opinion polls that initially covered between six and ten countries. The index comprises nine key dimensions, including the intensity of artificial intelligence use; the depth of reliance on it; its impact on thinking, productivity, and trust; the quality of its use; integration into services; and identity and cognitive independence.
The project team, in cooperation with the Index’s Academic Committee, is working to develop the methodology and measurement tools and determine the countries to be included in the study. This will enable the development of an index that can be measured annually and help monitor gaps between the intensity of artificial intelligence use and the extent of its actual benefits.
The event underscored the importance of broadening participation in the Academic Committee, strengthening cooperation among research institutions and universities, and supporting the development of a scientific tool that helps understand transformations associated with artificial intelligence and anticipate their future implications.
Agreement With Manassa Distribution
As part of efforts to expand cooperation in publishing and distributing knowledge, TRENDS Group signed a distribution agreement with Manassa Distribution, in the presence of Dr Mohammed Abdullah Al Ali, CEO of TRENDS Group, and Rashid Al Kous, CEO of Manassa Distribution. The agreement aims to strengthen cooperation between the two parties in distributing publications, expand the reach of the Group’s research and knowledge output to a wider audience, and support the presence of its publications in publishing and distribution markets.
Technology in Economic Growth with Bahr Al Thaqafa
In another research event, TRENDS, in cooperation with Bahr Al Thaqafa Foundation, organized a seminar titled Technology as a Driver of Economic Growth: Prospects for the Digital Economy in the United Arab Emirates and the Region. The seminar discussed technology’s role in supporting economic growth and the transformations underway in the UAE and the region’s digital economy. It also explored the opportunities and challenges of technological developments and their implications for future development.
The seminar featured Fatima Misbah Al Romaithi, Principal Researcher at TRENDS Research & Advisory, and Mouza Al Marzouqi, Director of the Economic Studies Department at the Center. The presentations examined how technology can increase productivity, enhance economic diversification and global competitiveness, and offer young people and entrepreneurs’ opportunities to access markets, develop innovative projects, and turn local ideas into scalable economic solutions.
The seminar emphasized the importance of investing in skills and technological applications and creating local value, helping turn digital transformation into higher productivity, new businesses, quality jobs, and sustainable economic growth.
Training Session for University Students
As part of TRENDS Group’s commitment to empowering young people and enhancing research knowledge, the TRENDS Training Institute organized a training session for students from local universities at the Group’s pavilion. The session addressed topics related to fairs and research and introduced students to the importance of scientific research and its role in building knowledge and developing skills.
TRENDS Group continues to welcome visitors to the 2026 Abu Dhabi International Book Fair at its pavilion, which brings together research publications, knowledge-focused events, and strategic partnerships. The pavilion reflects the Group’s presence under its new corporate identity and the integrated roles of its five companies in producing, disseminating, and developing knowledge.
