TRENDS Signs Strategic Cooperation Agreements With MBRSG, Forbes ME And DCD At World Governments Summit 2026

TRENDS Research & Advisory has entered three new strategic partnerships at the World Governments Summit 2026, signing Memoranda of Cooperation with the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government, Forbes Middle East magazine, and the Abu Dhabi Department of Community Development. The agreements focus on policy research, future foresight, training, and public opinion guidance, and aim to link academic work with media platforms and government decision-making at regional and global levels.

The memoranda are concluded during the World Governments Summit 2026, hosted at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai under the theme ‘Shaping Future Governments’, which runs until 5th February. The signings bring together leading UAE and regional institutions, and are designed to support sustainable development goals, consolidate the knowledge economy, and respond to rapid economic and technological shifts affecting societies worldwide.

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The agreements were signed at the summit venue by Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al Ali, CEO of TRENDS Research & Advisory; Dr. Ali bin Sebaa Al Marri, Executive President of MBRSG; Dr. Arif Al Hammadi, Acting Director-General of Strategic and Digital Affairs at the Abu Dhabi Department of Community Development; and Khuloud Al Omian, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of Forbes Middle East magazine, in the presence of attending officials, experts, and thought leaders.

Together, the four institutions will exchange research, data, and strategic analysis, with a particular focus on how artificial intelligence is reshaping governance, media, and research practices. Joint reports will address global economic and strategic trends, while the partners also plan regular forums and workshops to connect specialists, academics, and practitioners, supporting evidence-based policies across the UAE, the wider Middle East, and internationally.

Part of the cooperation involves building youth capabilities through training, leadership programmes, and policy-focused courses. These initiatives aim to convert research outputs into practical tools for decision-makers, while public dialogues and interactive sessions will help explain complex transformations to broader audiences. The partners intend that this integrated approach will contribute to social stability, improved quality of life, and more resilient institutions.

Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al Ali stated that the new collaboration framework is designed to bring research centres, government bodies, and media organisations into closer alignment. "the cooperation agreements with MBRSG, Forbes Middle East, and the Abu Dhabi Department of Community Development aim to unify efforts and integrate roles in producing rigorous scientific research and studies, building and developing the capacities of young leadership talent, and supporting informed policymaking."

Dr. Al Ali noted that joint work with the three entities will address sensitive social themes, including family cohesion, community ties, and youth wellbeing. The partnerships will also explore the effects of economic change and digital transitions on social structures. According to Dr. Al Ali, the goal is to turn data into clear visions, and then translate those visions into practical policies that support comprehensive development.

Dr. Al Ali added that the agreements signed during the World Governments Summit 2026 reflect TRENDS’ intention to move knowledge from academic circles into the wider policy arena. The institutional framework, he explained, enables the creation of shared research projects and training programmes, which can generate workable responses to contemporary challenges and reinforce standards of good governance, both regionally and worldwide.

World Governments Summit 2026 and TRENDS Research & Advisory strategic partnership on knowledge and society

From the Abu Dhabi Department of Community Development, Dr. Arif Al Hammadi said the partnership is rooted in a belief that building cohesive and aware communities depends on accurate understanding of social needs. He described TRENDS as a trusted partner with strong research and foresight capabilities, able to support the department’s role in monitoring change and designing targeted community initiatives.

Dr. Al Hammadi explained that one major objective is the development of a smart social monitoring system using public opinion polls, field surveys, and continuous analytical reports. These tools are intended to capture social attitudes and changing priorities in real time. The resulting data will guide the design, adjustment, and evaluation of development programmes, using strict scientific standards to better match community expectations.

For Forbes Middle East, CEO and Editor-in-Chief Khuloud Al Omian highlighted that the agreement with TRENDS will support deeper coverage of economic and social issues linked to the future of governance. The collaboration is expected to feed research-based content into the magazine’s platforms, offering readers across the Middle East and other regions more detailed analysis drawn from joint studies and strategic reports.

Al Omian observed that the Middle East and wider world are undergoing major technological, economic, and social transitions, which increase demand for reliable research and clear narratives. Cooperation with TRENDS, she said, underscores the role of think tanks and media outlets in presenting data-driven stories. The partnership aims to deliver practical, forward-looking insights that can help governments and institutions prepare for emerging challenges.

Al Omian added that the shared work will also support "knowledge trust" through accurate and methodologically sound content. By relying on rigorous research methods and cross-checked evidence, the partners plan to improve the quality of public debate on future government models, economic dynamics, and social change, while offering decision-makers accessible material based on tested analytical approaches.

Strategic partnership at World Governments Summit 2026 with TRENDS Research & Advisory

At the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government, Executive President Dr. Ali bin Sebaa Al Marri said the memorandum with TRENDS aligns with the School’s strategy to expand research connections and strengthen its role as a regional knowledge hub. The agreement is seen as part of broader efforts to support policymakers by providing specialised studies related to public policy, governance reform, and future government work.

Dr. Al Marri explained that the understanding signed during the World Governments Summit 2026 highlights MBRSG’s commitment to applied research based on evidence. The partnership is intended to ensure that academic outputs reflect the real needs of policy design and implementation. Through this, governments can address current pressures while also anticipating institutional transformations that may emerge over the coming years.

The three memoranda together form a common platform for exchanging information and producing joint outputs. They are also tied to regional and global development agendas, as shown below:{TABLE_1}

The cooperation framework across the four institutions is built to endure beyond the World Governments Summit 2026. The partners intend to keep updating their research priorities in line with new social, economic, and technological trends. By doing so, they aim to maintain an active role in supporting sustainable development policies, strengthening the knowledge economy, and improving the responsiveness of governments in the UAE, the Middle East, and internationally.

With inputs from WAM