Today's Edition
By: Dr Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali*
International relations are undergoing profound structural change. The world is caught between rapid technological advances, persistent geopolitical and geostrategic crises, ideologically driven violence, complex wars and conflicts, and intense international competition over economic, military, and intellectual tools.
These conditions, together, make international dialogue an exceptional opportunity to explore solutions, seek viable alternatives and identify pathways that can restore stability and peace, while refocusing global attention on development and international cooperation as the only viable route to a secure, productive and prosperous international environment.
Given that TRENDS Research & Advisory places international cooperation, bridge-building and dialogue at the core of its research work, the participation of the TRENDS delegation in the World Economic Forum in Davos 2026, for the fourth consecutive year, is a vital opportunity to contribute meaningfully to creating intellectual space for building common ground among international actors from East and West, North and South.
This engagement takes place within broader discussions on strategic issues and major global transformations, knowledge partnerships and forward-looking visions that support stability and sustainable growth.
TRENDS focused on enriching dialogue and debate, proposing practical ideas and alternatives and strengthening strategic partnerships to keep pace with global change and expand growth opportunities through frameworks of peace.
This approach shaped our contribution to the panel discussion “The Abraham Accords and the Path to Peace and Prosperity,” organised by the Inter-Parliamentary Coalition for Global Ethics and the International Committee on Countering Extremist and Hate Speech (ICCEHS).
The discussion examined the economic and political implications of peace agreements in the Middle East and explored ways to turn political understanding into tangible development and investment opportunities.
The Abraham Accords represent a redefinition of peace. They have the potential to move peace from managing conflict to building coexistence, as lasting stability depends on investing in human relationships between peoples. Here, the Abrahamic dimension stands out as an ethical foundation that restores the role of religion as a force for peace rather than a tool of conflict.
Within the theme “Global Transformations: Opportunities in Advanced Markets,” TRENDS presented, in a panel discussion held at the invitation of Eric Trump, Executive Vice President of the Trump Organisation, a vision for identifying and leveraging opportunities in international markets.
The discussion emphasised supporting scientific research to inform strategic decision-making in line with global economic trends.
The exchange was rich and substantive, bringing together conceptual, theoretical and applied perspectives alongside international expertise, and collectively outlining a framework that can serve as a starting point for regional and international cooperation.
Another key milestone was the “Strategic Dialogue between Europe and the Middle East,” which serves as a gateway to partnerships capable of adapting to global transformations at a time when maps of influence and international alliances are being redrawn.
This dialogue gains added importance as relations between Europe and the Middle East, particularly the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, move beyond trade toward strategic partnerships shaped by global geopolitical and economic shifts. The discussions reflected a shared awareness of the need to build long-term cooperation frameworks based on trust and joint innovation.
As international partnerships expand to include advanced technologies, conventional and renewable energy, environment and climate, artificial intelligence, scientific research and advanced industries, TRENDS placed “responsible innovation in the age of artificial intelligence” and the challenges of AI governance at the centre of the discussion.
The focus was on ensuring fair access to innovation opportunities and exploring ways to harness AI as a tool for inclusive growth and sustainable development, without widening digital divides.
This includes combining European research capabilities with the advanced digital and energy infrastructure of Gulf countries to help build new global technology alliances.
Rapid technological progress has created ethical, social, security and strategic challenges that require a balanced approach to ensure the responsible use of artificial intelligence.
Such an approach must align technological advancement with sound governance, justice and equal opportunity.
Through proactive governance and human oversight, safety and protection can be ensured while limiting the dominance of narrow interests over the public good.
At global forums of this importance, TRENDS continues to promote cooperation and dialogue that support stability, growth and international collaboration, particularly in advanced technologies and artificial intelligence as a growing driver of responsible innovation and sustainable growth.
Through intellectual diplomacy that informs decision-making, anticipates the future and contributes practical responses to shared global challenges, TRENDS seeks to turn technological transformation into inclusive economic progress.
*The writer is the CEO of TRENDS Research & Advisory
