The Department of Sustainable Development and International Cooperation of the League of Arab States, in cooperation with the Arab Federation for Digital Economy, held the second high-level workshop of the regional working group on “Digital Transformation and Sustainable Development” under the title “Sustainable Investment in Digital Transformation in the Arab Region”, on December 16 and 17, 2024 in Abu Dhabi, in the presence of a group of experts and specialists from various Arab countries, in addition to participants via video conference technology.
The workshop discussed the needs of Arab countries in the field of digital transformation, and reviewed regional investment opportunities to enhance this vital sector, in addition to the importance of building effective partnerships between the public and private sectors to accelerate the pace of digital development.
The workshop sessions included several main topics. The first session, “Digital Investment in the Arab Region,” addressed government digital transformation initiatives and infrastructure investments such as smart cities and digital payment systems, with the participation of representatives from Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the Arab Smart Cities Forum.
The second session focused on “Supporting Private Investment Opportunities and Foreign Partnerships,” where participants discussed ways to enhance investment in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, in addition to developing digital skills and encouraging technological innovation, with the participation of Arab and international organizations.
On the second day, the third session discussed a proposal to launch a roadmap for sustainable digital transformation 2025-2030, which includes an executive action plan to enhance regional cooperation and link national platforms with the Arab Digital Platform for Sustainable Development.
The workshop concluded with thanks to the United Arab Emirates and His Highness Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Interior and Supreme President of the Arab Federation for Digital Economy, for their hospitality and support for the workshop, which provided an important platform to advance digital transformation efforts in the Arab region.
