Today's Edition
The columnist is the Chief Executive Officer of the think-tank firm TRENDS Research & Advisory
Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali
In an era of accelerating events and global transformations, TRENDS Research & Advisory continues to traverse East and West, engaging in dialogue, academic interaction and scientific cooperation while building bridges of communication with research and academic institutions around the world.
After its recent trips across Europe, America and Africa, the think-tank now turns to Russia, supporting global intellectual dialogue and the exchange of views and ideas on international issues and challenges.
It is well established that think-tanks play a central role in shaping perspectives and intellectual diplomacy. In this context, the visit by TRENDS to Moscow represented a step that reinforces exchange of meaningful dialogues and establishes common ground between Emirati and Russian minds.
It also reflects the philosophy of “soft power” adopted by the UAE, based on investment in knowledge, intellectual engagement, and the accumulation of research expertise.
Accordingly, TRENDS participated in the forum “The Greater Eurasian Partnership: Development Strategy”, organised by the International Organisation for Eurasian Cooperation (IOEC) in Moscow, in pursuit of international integration and support for a multi-polar global order.
TRENDS got the opportunity to highlight “the role of think-tanks and their contribution to the development of the Greater Eurasian Partnership”, presenting distinctive academic insights on enhancing business dialogue between Russia and the GCC and on the role of digital technologies and industrial development in supporting prospects for cooperation.
Think-tanks are global platforms that serve as strategic bridges between governments, the private sector and academia, providing knowledge support and the ability to shape data-driven, evidence-based policies.
They also forecast the future through scenarios that outline priorities and mechanisms for moving into a prosperous future, driven by global intellectual dialogue. This was reflected in the form of strategic research partnerships, as TRENDS, through its Moscow office, signed two cooperation agreements with the IOEC and the Valdai Discussion Club.
During the session titled “Women in Diplomacy: Pathways of Inspiration and Global Influence”, organised by the Embassy of the UAE in Russia, TRENDS presented case studies of successful female diplomats from different countries, highlighting how they achieved their aspirations and reached senior diplomatic positions.
It also underscored the UAE’s role in empowering women and encouraging them to pursue their professional careers in the diplomatic field.
Think-tanks have long been considered “laboratories of the future”, analysing global trends, shaping scenarios, and offering recommendations to decision-makers. In keeping with this ethos, TRENDS focuses on applied research and strategic insights, not just theory.
Its tour in Russia was an attempt to test how ideas can transform into useful instruments for understanding Russian policies and for anticipating possible avenues of cooperation, while also giving researchers the opportunity to see the picture from the inside, not merely from the outside.
Relations between the UAE and Russia have developed over the past two decades based on common interests and mutual respect, expanding into fields such as international politics, energy, space, and tourism.
These ties have become a model of balance, understanding, and joint coordination. This is evidenced by the UAE’s growing role as a mediator in the Russia-Ukraine war, with Emirati-Russian relations characterised by dialogue, balance, and diversity of shared issues.
TRENDS’ research tour in Russia reflects a desire to move bilateral relations into a new dimension – the intellectual and knowledge dimension, which gives the relationship greater depth and sustainability.
No international relationship can truly flourish without mutual understanding of culture, politics, and the intellectual environment shaping the other side’s positions and opening avenues for discussion across multiple domains.
For this reason, TRENDS inaugurated its sixth physical international office in Moscow in 2024 to build a network of strategic partnerships with Russian academic and research institutions and to facilitate scientific exchange with academics, researchers, and experts across diverse scientific fields.
