Arab Dialogue Circle on
"Artificial Intelligence in the Arab World"

Under the patronage and presidency of His Excellency Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States and Chairman of the Higher Coordination Committee for Joint Arab Action, and through the joint organization of the Arab Academy for Science, Technology, and Maritime Transport (AASTMT), headed by H.E. Prof. Dr. Ismail Abdel Ghafar, and Naif Arab University for Security Sciences (NAUSS), headed by H.E. Dr. Abdulmajeed Al-Banyan, in cooperation with the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States, the Arab Dialogue Forum on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Arab World: “Innovative Applications and Ethical Challenges,” was held over two days (2-3 February 2025) at the headquarters of the League of Arab States.

The event was attended by H.E. Prof. Dr. Amr Talaat, Egyptian Minister of Communications and Information Technology and Chairman of the current session of the Arab Council of Ministers of Communications and Information and its Executive Bureau, along with H.E. Mr. Mohammed Al-Yamahi, President of the Arab Parliament, esteemed permanent representatives, and officials from Arab member states, as well as a distinguished group of international and Arab specialists in AI, senior officials from Arab ministries of communications and information, and representatives of Arab organizations and unions concerned with AI applications.

Event Importance and Objectives

The convening of this forum was in implementation of the Economic and Social Council Resolution No. 2444, in its regular session (114) in September 2024, which approved the decisions of the regular session (56) of the Higher Coordination Committee for Joint Arab Action in April 2024, and the decisions of the (28th) session of the Arab Council of Ministers of Communications and Information in January 2024.

The objectives included:

• • Exploring the latest global innovations in AI and promoting their adoption in the Arab world.
• • Discussing the ethical and legislative challenges facing the employment of AI across various sectors.
• • Developing a unified Arab vision for leveraging AI in a balanced way that ensures technological progress while preserving Arab values and culture.
• • Enhancing Arab cooperation in AI to support sustainable development in the region.

Dialogue Sessions

The forum featured four main discussion panels:

• 1. Panel 1: Modern Innovations in Artificial Intelligence: Exploring Global Trends and Applications in the Arab Region, with a focus on generative AI, drones, and robotics. This session was chaired by Prof. Dr. Ali Fahmy, Dean of the AI College at AASTMT.
• 2. Panel 2: AI for Diplomacy and Peacekeeping: Prospects for International Cooperation and Conflict Prevention, chaired by H.E. Ambassador Hossam Zaki, Assistant Secretary-General and Head of the Secretary-General’s Office.
• 3. Panel 3: Ethics of AI Usage: Focusing on the Importance of Ethical and Legislative Frameworks for AI Applications in the Arab World, chaired by H.E. Dr. Abdulmajeed Al-Banyan, President of NAUSS.
• 4. Panel 4: Technical Session to Discuss Implementation Mechanisms of the Main Panels, chaired by H.E. Prof. Dr. Ismail Abdel Ghafar, President of AASTMT.

Key Recommendations

Based on the rich discussions, the participants arrived at several strategic recommendations supporting joint Arab action in AI, including:

• 1. Launching a unified Arab initiative to foster innovation in AI, ensuring these innovations align with authentic Arab values.
• 2. Proposing a common Arab legislative framework to regulate AI usage, balancing technological advancement with privacy and cybersecurity protection.
• 3. Strengthening Arab and international cooperation by establishing specialized Arab platforms for exchanging expertise and knowledge in AI applications, with a focus on partnerships with leading international organizations.
• 4. Prioritizing AI in national development plans of Arab states and promoting its role in fields such as education, healthcare, security, and digital infrastructure.
• 5. Developing an Arab Charter on AI Ethics to define the ethical principles for using AI across various sectors, considering the cultural, religious, and legal dimensions of Arab countries.
• 6. Establishing specialized research centers within Arab academic institutions, particularly supporting the Arab AI Center hosted by AASTMT in its Alamein branch in Egypt, under the League of Arab States framework, to study AI’s societal impact and promote research in this field.
• 7. Launching specialized Arab training and capacity-building programs in AI targeting government employees, startups, and innovators to develop national competencies in this field.

Organizing Committee

The Higher Organizing Committee was chaired by H.E. Dr. Ali bin Ibrahim Al-Maliki, Assistant Secretary-General and Head of the Economic Affairs Sector at the League of Arab States, with the following members:

• • Prof. Dr. Ali Fahmy, Dean of the AI College at AASTMT and Chairman of the Scientific Committee for the Dialogue Forum
• • Minister Plenipotentiary Dr. Raed Al-Jubouri, Director of the Department of Arab Organizations and Unions
• • Dr. Mostafa Rasheed, Assistant President of AASTMT for Arab Affairs and General Coordinator of the Forum
• • Dr. Khalid Al-Harfash, Vice President of NAUSS for External Relations
• • Minister Plenipotentiary Dr. Khalid Wali, Director of the Communication and IT Development Department at the League of Arab States
• • Dr. Maryam Ammi, Director of the Partnerships and International Cooperation Department at NAUSS
• • Engineer Soha Othman, Head of the AI Division at the Communication and IT Development Department
• • Dr. Basma Abdullah, Head of the Technical Follow-up Unit at the AASTMT President’s Office and Secretary of the Committee

Closing Session

In the closing session chaired by H.E. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, it was agreed to include these recommendations in a historical document currently being prepared, which will outline actionable strategies. The document will be submitted to the (57th) session of the Higher Coordination Committee for Joint Arab Action, chaired by the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, scheduled to be held in Tunisia from 13 to 15 April 2025, and to the upcoming session of the Arab Council of Ministers of Communications and Information and its Executive Bureau.

The forum emphasized the continuation of dialogue and cooperation between Arab states and specialized Arab organizations to ensure optimal utilization of AI for sustainable development, digital security enhancement, and the preservation of Arab cultural identity.

To position the Arab region as a global leader in harnessing artificial intelligence while preserving its rich cultural identity and values.

The Dialogue Circle will aim to create a historical document that advocates for the preservation of Arab identity amidst rapid technological advancements.

This document will propose essential legislation and frameworks to regulate AI usage in alignment with authentic Arab values, ensuring that innovation respects and enriches cultural heritage