New research publications, MoUs, distribution agreements, platforms, indicators, panel discussions, training workshops, and strategic book signings.
TRENDS Group concluded its participation in the 35th edition of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, held from September 13-18, 2026. The week featured 35 knowledge and cultural events, reflecting the scope of the group’s activities and the integration of its companies.
The agenda encompassed research publications, studies, panel discussions, training programs, MoUs, cooperation and distribution agreements, and the launch of research platforms, indicators, and initiatives.
Final Day Highlights
On the sixth and final day, TRENDS Group concluded its program with a panel discussion titled Youth and Societal Values in the Era of Knowledge Revolution: The Identity Question. Hosted by TRENDS Global via its Virtual Cairo Office, the session featured Dr. Ahmed Abdulla Zayed, Director of the Library of Alexandria. The discussion explored the transformation of knowledge societies, social media’s impact on youth values, and concepts of identity and modernity in the Arab world.
Dr. Zayed emphasized that innovation and quality education are the region’s primary drivers for entering a knowledge-based society, stressing the importance of supporting talented individuals. He noted that the Arab world is experiencing “hybrid modernity” — importing technology without its underlying rationality and values, such as tolerance — and called on youth to exercise awareness and selectivity.
He warned against migrating entirely into the virtual world, noting its promotion of consumerism, superficial thought, instinctual driving, and extremism, which negatively impacts academic performance and family cohesion. Furthermore, he outlined four pillars to protect national identity: building trust between individuals and institutions, instilling respect, reviving national memory through education and the family, and countering extremist ideology.
The final day also featured the signing of two key books:
• Strategic Leadership in the Military Institution: A Theoretical and Applied Study by Maj. Gen. Pilot (Ret.) Abdullah Al-Sayed Mohamed Al-Hashimi.
• Zayed’s Achievements in the Depths of the Earth: Biography of the Late Sheikh Zayed by Emirati thinker and expert Prof. Saif Al-Sayari.
Key Achievements
Identity & Publications: TRENDS unveiled its new corporate identity and showcased over 500 research publications covering political, strategic, economic, security, cultural, and technological fields, alongside AI and global shifts.
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Innovation: Launched the AI Indicator to monitor the tech’s impact on society, hosted a panel on AI and Culture, and conducted a workshop titled AI and Future-Making in collaboration with Maharat.
• Strategic Security Publications: Signed key releases including National Strategic Planning to Build a Deterrence Strategy by Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Dr. Khalid Abdullah Al-Buainain Al-Mazrouei, Balancing Power and Peace: The Role of Chinese Mediation in International Conflicts by Abdulaziz Al-Shehhi, and The Polar Silk Road: China’s Ambitions in the Arctic by Rashed Al-Zabi.
• Development & Academic Partnerships: Co-hosted a panel and book launch with the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (Abu Dhabi Fund for Development: Emirati Hands Shaping Global Prosperity 2025), signed a research and academic MoU with New York University Abu Dhabi, and launched the OPINXT opinion polling platform.
• Distribution & Media Collaborations: Signed distribution agreements with Mansa Distribution and Dar Al-Kitab Al-Jame’i, partnered with Barakat Holding, and hosted joint seminars with the Bahr Al-Thaqafa Foundation and Mohamed Bin Zayed University for Humanities.
Throughout the exhibition, the TRENDS booth attracted ministers, ambassadors, senior officials, diplomats, academics, and researchers, serving as an international platform for dialogue, strategic partnerships, and knowledge exchange.
