The agreement formalised a framework for shared research projects, data exchange and academic events between the two Abu Dhabi-based entities, according to a WAM dispatch published Tuesday. TRENDS Barometer will contribute its expertise in trend forecasting and empirical surveys while Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi will provide scholarly resources and interdisciplinary perspectives. The signing ceremony brought together senior representatives from both sides who outlined plans for co-authored publications and joint seminars over the coming year.
WAM reported that the partnership seeks to address complex regional and international questions through evidence-based inquiry, building on existing academic ties in the emirate. Officials noted that initial projects will examine economic shifts, societal changes and geopolitical dynamics affecting the Gulf and beyond. The cooperation includes provisions for student involvement and faculty exchanges to broaden the research base.
TRENDS Research and Advisory, the parent organisation of TRENDS Barometer, maintains an active publication schedule that includes regular assessments of political and economic indicators, its own records show. Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, which has operated since 2006 according to university archives, has established itself as a centre for French-language higher education and cross-cultural scholarship in the United Arab Emirates. The new agreement adds to a growing network of institutional partnerships that the university has formed with local think tanks over the past decade.
A TRENDS spokesperson told WAM that the collaboration will enhance the accuracy and reach of barometer-style surveys by incorporating academic peer review at every stage. The university’s leadership similarly emphasised the value of linking theoretical research with applied policy analysis. Both parties committed to annual reviews of the agreement’s progress to ensure alignment with evolving research priorities.
Public data from the UAE Ministry of Education places the number of active higher-education partnerships in Abu Dhabi above 150 as of 2025, reflecting a strategic push toward knowledge-based economic diversification. The TRENDS-Sorbonne pact fits within this pattern by targeting specialised fields where timely trend analysis can inform decision-making. Additional joint activities are scheduled to begin before the end of 2026.
The agreement also envisions the creation of a dedicated working group to coordinate fieldwork and data collection across multiple countries, WAM stated. Participants will draw on Sorbonne’s global academic network and TRENDS Barometer’s established survey infrastructure to produce comparative studies. This structured approach aims to generate outputs that are both academically rigorous and policy-relevant.
