TRENDS Global, a subsidiary of TRENDS Group, announced that its sixth annual conference will open on October 12, 2026, at The Ritz-Carlton in Abu Dhabi, drawing participants that include former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Dr. Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi of the UAE Federal National Council and Ambassador Michael Waltz, the US Permanent Representative to the United Nations. Admiral Brad Cooper, Commander of US Central Command, is also scheduled to deliver a keynote address during the opening session, which will be followed by a fireside chat with Pompeo moderated by CNN International anchor Becky Anderson. The gathering, coordinated with TRENDS offices in 26 countries, will feature researchers, policymakers and thought leaders from the United Arab Emirates, the wider region, the United States, Europe and Asia.
Awadh Al-Breiki, Director-General of TRENDS Global, said the selection of Sustainable Security as the conference theme reflects the importance of shifting from responding to crises after they occur towards building systems better able to anticipate, adapt to and withstand shocks. The programme includes the launch of a new book offering insights into the post-war Middle East, according to the organisers. Al-Breiki added that the event will assemble political, military, academic and media figures to explore interconnected challenges facing the region.
Four main sessions will address different aspects of the central theme, beginning with “Rethinking Regional Security: What Comes After Deterrence?” which examines vulnerabilities in civilian, digital, energy and critical infrastructure. Subsequent discussions will cover “The Information Battleground: Narratives, Influence and Conflict,” “Strength Through Partnerships: Alignments Reshaping the Balance of Power” and “Resilient Connectivity: Securing Energy and Trade Flows in the Age of Geo-Economic Competition,” a TRENDS Group statement distributed by Emirates News Agency indicated. The conference will conclude with closing remarks and a set of recommendations.
TRENDS Research and Advisory, rebranded as TRENDS Group in 2026 after its founding in Abu Dhabi in 2014, has published more than 864 research papers and established partnerships with over 258 institutions worldwide, according to the organisation’s records. The think tank has also organised 225 scientific events and produced 2,274 periodic publications during its first decade, data from its anniversary reports show. These activities have positioned TRENDS among leading institutions focused on geopolitical, economic and social analysis across the Middle East and beyond.
The conference builds on previous editions that addressed topics ranging from artificial intelligence to regional crises, with earlier events held in partnership with bodies such as the Atlantic Council and during COP28 in Dubai. Lt. Gen. Karen Gibson, former head of intelligence at US Central Command, and Prof. Choi Jong Kun of Yonsei University are among additional panellists listed for the opening-day discussions. Nina Jankowicz, CEO of the American Sunlight Project, will participate in the session on information warfare and narratives.
Registration for the full-day programme, which runs from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., remains open through the TRENDS Group website, the organisers stated. The event will also open an accompanying exhibition highlighting research outputs and institutional milestones.
