Meeting in Abu Dhabi between TRENDS Group, the Friedman Institute and AB Group

On June 5, 2026, at the TRENDS Group headquarters in Abu Dhabi, an important bilateral meeting was held between the leaders of the Milton Friedman Institute, AB Group and the prestigious Emirati think tank.

Alessandro Bertoldi, Executive Director of the Milton Friedman Institute, accompanied by Adriano Teresi, Director of AB Group, met with Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, President and Founder of TRENDS Research & Advisory, as well as the main officials of the research center.

This meeting laid the foundations for structured cooperation between the two organizations on many topics of common interest, including strategic research and foresight, international politics, economics and public diplomacy, culture, soft power and communication of respective identities, as well as challenges related to security, technological innovation and global governance.

The parties stressed the importance of strengthening the intellectual and strategic bridge between the United Arab Emirates, Italy and Europe, at a time when dialogue between civilizations, cultural resilience and cooperation in the digital and geopolitical fields are common priorities, particularly in the fight against terrorism and radicalism.

"This first meeting marks the beginning of a concrete partnership," the participants stated. "Numerous opportunities for cooperation will soon emerge through joint research, international events, publications, and high-level initiatives."

TRENDS Group is one of the leading think tanks in the United Arab Emirates, internationally recognized for the quality of its geopolitical, security, and forecasting analyses. The Milton Friedman Institute and AB Group, for their part, bring extensive European and international experience in the fields of diplomacy, strategic communication, and applied research.

This meeting is part of the broader strengthening of bilateral relations between Italy and the United Arab Emirates and confirms Abu Dhabi's increasingly central role as a global platform for dialogue, research and development of innovative strategies.