Khalaf Al Habtoor: Supporting Research Centres Is a National Duty… The Arabic Language, Commitment, and Integrity are Pillars of Renewal
Dubai, 15 January 2026 – The Al Habtoor Research Centre (AHRC) marked its third anniversary with its annual event, which opened with a special dialogue session featuring Emirati businessman Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor, Founder and Chairman of the Al Habtoor Group. The discussion addressed a range of pressing regional and international issues, set against a backdrop of rapid political, economic, and technological transformations shaping the global landscape.
During the session, Al Habtoor shared his perspective on the nature of the coming phase, underscoring the importance of wisdom and balance in navigating global change. He highlighted the pivotal role played by the UAE’s founding leaders in shaping the country’s development trajectory through clear vision, long-term planning, and a strong culture of commitment and responsibility. He stressed that unity, teamwork, and collective purpose remain the true foundations of nation-building, and that integration and cooperation are among the most effective tools for overcoming challenges and shaping the future.
The Centre’s third annual celebration was held in the presence of a distinguished audience comprising diplomats, business leaders, researchers, academics, and decision-makers. The event reflected the Centre’s growing trajectory and its expanding role in supporting knowledge production and evidence-based policymaking.
The occasion also served as a key moment to showcase AHRC’s most notable achievements over 1,000 days since its establishment, reaffirming its position as a leading regional and international think tank specialising in strategic foresight, policy analysis, early warning systems, and risk assessment.
A Gradual Foundational Path and a Clear Institutional Vision
In a presentation delivered during the event, Dr Azza Hashem, Director of the Al Habtoor Research Centre, outlined the Centre’s institutional development between 2022 and 2025. She traced its journey from the official launch in 2022, through a pilot operational phase, followed by full institutional activation, the launch of its official website in June 2023, and culminating in its regional expansion with the opening of the Dubai branch in 2025.
Dr Hashem noted that the establishment of the Dubai branch represents a strategic shift in the Centre’s work, integrating technology-driven research with political and economic analysis. This approach enables the transformation of academic knowledge into practical policy solutions that support decision-makers and strengthen societal resilience in the face of future challenges.
She added that the new phase launched from Dubai marks a step towards greater openness, expansion, and global engagement. The Dubai branch will focus on innovation, scientific research, and medical studies, complementing the Centre’s role in Cairo as a regional research hub. This will enhance AHRC’s scientific and applied impact at both regional and international levels.
Research Output and Flagship Initiatives
During the event, the Centre highlighted its research output, which includes more than 600 analytical reports and strategic assessments, alongside over 110 research publications in both Arabic and English. AHRC has also launched specialised analytical programmes, most notably the “What If” series and the region’s first dedicated risk-foresight periodical, which has explored unconventional future scenarios, including the integration of technology into the human body.
The Centre also showcased its advanced capabilities in early warning and risk sensing, supported by innovative research and analytical tools. These capabilities have enabled AHRC to engage with a wide range of global issues, including artificial intelligence, the future of warfare, data conflicts, regulatory gaps in AI and robotics legislation, space studies, economic transformations, and the digitalisation of economies, with particular attention to Latin America.
Honouring the Winners of the Arabic Language Preservation Initiative
The event featured the recognition of winners of the Khalaf Al Habtoor Initiative to Preserve the Arabic Language, in appreciation of their contributions to strengthening Arabic as a language of knowledge, research, and scientific production, and enhancing its presence in academic and cultural spheres. This aligns with the Centre’s mission to reinforce Arab intellectual identity and safeguard the Arabic language amid rapid digital transformation.
In his address, Khalaf Al Habtoor emphasised that supporting research centres is not an intellectual luxury, but rather a national duty and a collective responsibility, particularly for business leaders and Arab officials, as a way of giving back to the nations and societies that enabled their success. He stressed that investment in research and knowledge is a fundamental pillar in building a sustainable future.
Al Habtoor stated: “We have solid foundations, we have minds, and we have thinkers and intellectuals. Our true success came from cooperation among people, the convergence of minds, and unity of vision between leadership and society. This is the secret behind the UAE’s success.”
Addressing language and identity, he reaffirmed that the Arabic language is the language of the Holy Qur’an and an integral part of Arab identity. He called for strengthening Arabic education for younger generations and expanding its scientific and cultural use, urging intensified efforts to protect it from decline.
Looking Ahead: 2026 as a Year of Peace and Construction
At the conclusion of the event, the Centre announced that 2026 will be a Year of Peace and Construction, with its research agenda focusing on nuclear security, biosecurity, and food security, within a forward-looking vision aimed at transforming challenges into opportunities, redirecting conflict towards pathways of peacebuilding, and strengthening the Arab role in knowledge production and in shaping a more stable and prosperous future.
