TRENDS Research & Advisory has obtained membership in the Emirates Reprographic Rights Management Association, according to the Emirates News Agency. The development coincided with the signing of a partnership agreement at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair that will facilitate exchange of expertise, joint events and support for studies in knowledge promotion. Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS, and Mohammed bin Dukhein Al-Matroushi, chairman of the association’s board, inked the accord. The step marks another advance for the independent research organisation in strengthening its publishing and dissemination capabilities.
The agreement will promote collaboration across publishing, media and research domains, TRENDS said in a statement. It builds on the centre’s commitment to disseminating knowledge while ensuring proper management of intellectual property rights for its outputs. Al-Ali said, “We are highly appreciative as we sign these important agreements with strategic partners who share our visions and goals.” Subsequent references to the partnership have highlighted its role in supporting lawful reproduction of literary and research materials.
TRENDS Research & Advisory was founded in Abu Dhabi in 2014 and rebranded as TRENDS Group in 2026, according to the organisation’s website. The centre comprises multiple entities focused on geopolitical, economic, social and futures studies, and it produced more than 1,260 research papers in 2025 alone, a TRENDS review of its activities stated. University of Pennsylvania rankings have placed it among the top ten emerging think tanks globally, with additional recognition for contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic. The organisation maintains 24 offices worldwide and has forged more than 370 international partnerships.
The Emirates Reprographic Rights Management Association was established on March 2, 2022, under Cabinet Resolution No. 299 of 2021, its governance page shows. Operating as a not-for-profit collective licensing body under UAE Federal Copyright Law No. 38 of 2021, the association represents authors and publishers in managing secondary uses of literary works. It issues licenses for reprographic reproduction to educational institutions and other organisations while collecting royalties on behalf of rights holders. The association has also secured membership in the International Federation of Reproduction Rights Organisations to expand its international role.
TRENDS has pursued several similar affiliations in recent years to deepen its presence in the publishing sector. The centre joined the Emirates Publishers Association as the first independent research entity in the UAE and later obtained membership in the Arab Publishers Association in January 2025, according to its announcements. It is now finalising entry into the International Publishers Association. These moves align with TRENDS’ production of thousands of reports and its organisation of major research events that have earned a Guinness World Record.
The partnership with the Emirates Reprographic Rights Management Association will help safeguard the centre’s extensive catalogue of publications against unauthorised use, ERRA’s operational guidelines indicate. Rights management has grown in importance as the UAE expands its knowledge economy and creative sectors. TRENDS’ annual output supports decision-makers and academics across the region and beyond, with the new membership providing an additional framework for compliant sharing of its materials.
