TRENDS conference explores the future of digital diplomacy

The TRENDS Research & Advisory Center held the second edition of its Annual Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence at its headquarters in Abu Dhabi, in partnership with the UAE Cybersecurity Council and 23 technological, academic, and media institutions. This year’s dialogue focused on “Tech Diplomacy in the Middle East and North Africa.” The first edition of the AI Dialogue was held in Tokyo, Japan in November 2024.

The second edition featured four key themes addressing evolving US - Gulf relations, the role of technology in shaping soft power, the geopolitical implications of artificial intelligence on regional security and stability, the future of digital transformation in the region, and the growing significance of energy as a central enabler of AI technologies, particularly data centres.

The dialogue saw the participation of the US-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS),  marking its first contribution to a research event in the Middle East  alongside experts and academics from leading tech companies such as Google, OpenAI, G42, GC REAIM, Khalifa University, Mohammed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, NYU Abu Dhabi, and other scientific and academic institutions.

Participants called for strengthening strategic partnerships, establishing an international coalition to manage emerging technologies and enhance cybersecurity, adopting comprehensive AI governance, and promoting responsible innovation and digital education.

Speakers also highlighted the UAE - US AI Acceleration Partnership aimed at advancing cooperation in emerging technologies and safeguarding sensitive innovations.

In his AI-generated opening address, Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS Research & Advisory, said rapid technological advancements have become instruments of soft power capable of reshaping traditional power dynamics.

He noted that the Center’s first strategic dialogue held last year in Tokyo underscored the need for shared standards for the responsible use of AI. He added that the Abu Dhabi dialogue comes amid a significant geopolitical shift marked by newly formed US partnerships with regional nations partnerships he described as strategic tools for re-engineering the regional order through AI and digital infrastructure.

Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of the UAE Government’s Cybersecurity Council, discussed emerging challenges and opportunities from both security and diplomatic perspectives. He called for establishing a sustainable international framework to strengthen trust and cooperation in cyberspace and to protect societies from the widening technological divide between nations.

He emphasised that digital diplomacy has become an essential complement to traditional diplomacy, adding cybersecurity and information security to the foreign policy agenda. He also stressed that a nation’s technological strength now defines its diplomatic standing and that modern technologies enhance diplomatic work and support more effective decision-making.

A panel moderated by Elyazia Al Hosani, Senior Researcher at TRENDS, featured remarks by Ziad Jammal, Managing Director of Google Cloud for the UAE, the Levant, and North Africa. He discussed the impact of technology and AI on regional diplomacy and Google’s strategy to support growth in the Middle East.

Jammal noted that a country’s influence today is measured by its digital infrastructure and AI capabilities. He highlighted Google’s “AI Opportunity Initiative,” which has trained more than two million people since 2018, supported by $16 million in training and research investments.

Under the theme “A New Era of US–Gulf Partnerships,” the first session examined the evolving priorities of US- Gulf relations from technological innovation to strategic cooperation. Bilal Saab, Director of the TRENDS Office in the United States, concluded that the relationship is shifting from energy-centric ties to new priorities such as data centers and AI infrastructure. He emphasised that emerging technologies serve as catalysts for accelerated cooperation.

Mona Yacoubian, Director of the Middle East Program at CSIS, noted that the region is undergoing a defining moment, with technology and AI now at the core of economic diversification strategies.

Alexis Bonnell, Head of AI Adoption at OpenAI, stressed that successful innovation partnerships rely on trust and shared vision, calling for greater focus on human capital development and smart regulatory frameworks alongside technological advancement.

The second session, dedicated to “The Geopolitical Dimensions of Artificial Intelligence,” explored how AI is reshaping global cooperation and competition. Moderated by Abdulaziz Al Shehhi, Deputy Head of Research at TRENDS, the session featured an analysis by Dr. Ibrahim Saeed Al Hajri, President of Khalifa University, who outlined six key pillars enabling the UAE’s leadership in AI: clean energy, the establishment of a dedicated AI ministry, the development of sovereign language models, talent attraction, flexible testbed environments, and the conversion of research into economic projects.

Professor Sophia Kalantzakos of NYU Abu Dhabi highlighted the growing importance of energy demand as a central geopolitical factor in the global AI race.

Henrietta Levin of CSIS likened the current AI competition to the space race, noting that the U.S. aims to develop Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) driven by capital markets, while China focuses on rapid, practical applications to secure productivity gains.

Yassin Wetellal, Head of Systems Engineering at CrowdStrike, warned that threat actors are already leveraging AI for cyberattacks, calling for a balanced approach between innovation and risk management.

Abdullah Al Khaja, a researcher at TRENDS, added that the launch of ChatGPT in 2022 triggered a global AI race that demands more adaptive international regulations.

The third and final session, moderated by Paula Naufal from CNN Arabic Business, explored how AI is redefining soft power and global diplomacy.

Panelists included Dr. Saeed Al Dhaheri, Director of the Center for Futures Studies at the University of Dubai; researcher Will Todman of CSIS; Professor Sami Haddadin of MBZUAI; and Najla Al Madfa from TRENDS.

The session concluded that AI has become a new source of geopolitical power, surpassing natural resources and military strength. Soft power is no longer limited to culture and education it now encompasses digital identity systems, smart services, and AI models.

Speakers agreed that the UAE’s AI experience represents a balanced model that integrates sovereign capabilities with global partnerships, supported by sovereign AI infrastructure and large-scale data centers that bolster cybersecurity and diversify partnerships with both East and West.

They emphasized that the UAE’s flexible regulatory environment grants it a global competitive advantage and provides a safe testbed for emerging technologies, strengthening international trust in its digital ecosystem.

The dialogue sessions concluded by calling for the establishment of an international coalition to manage the risks and opportunities of emerging technologies and to adopt comprehensive AI governance frameworks.