Cairo – February 16, 2026
The General Secretariat of the League of Arab States organized the “Arab Sustainability Day” event under the slogan “The Path of Sustainable Development: A Decade of Achievements,” at the headquarters of the General Secretariat in Cairo, in the presence of a number of prominent Arab leaders and representatives of regional bodies and specialized organizations.
The event was chaired by His Excellency the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, in the presence of Sheikh Faisal bin Saud Al Qasimi, President of the Arab Innovation and Creativity Network, along with representatives of Arab governments, members of the diplomatic corps, and civil society organizations concerned with sustainable development issues.
Aboul Gheit stressed that the path of sustainable development in the Arab world is facing real tests in light of the accelerating humanitarian challenges in some countries of the region, stressing that sustainability has become a prerequisite for maintaining the cohesion of societies and ensuring a safe and sustainable future.
His Excellency explained that this occasion represents an annual opportunity to assess the progress of joint Arab development efforts, review adopted policies, and shift from a reactive approach to crises to proactive strategies and long-term approaches. He also emphasized the importance of empowering Arab youth as a key driver of development transformation, supporting their active participation in decision-making, and enabling them to contribute to addressing the economic, social, and environmental challenges facing the region.
Minister Plenipotentiary Dr. Nada Al-Ajezi, Director of the Department of Sustainable Development and International Cooperation at the General Secretariat, affirmed during her speech that the celebration of the Arab Sustainability Day represents an embodiment of the Arab commitment to transforming the culture of sustainability into a strategic pillar in the paths of comprehensive development, and that the sustainability file has become a unifying focus in Arab national policies and plans, and not an ordinary sectoral issue.
The celebration program included a panel discussion entitled “The Contributions of Civil Society Organizations to Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in Arab Countries,” which discussed the role of civil society in supporting development efforts and expanding partnerships between governmental and non-governmental entities. The event also saw the participation of representatives from the private sector, academic institutions, and Arab civil society, who emphasized their complementary role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals based on cooperation and integration.
Participating in the celebration on behalf of the Arab Federation for Digital Economy was Ambassador Ashraf Rashid, Chairman of the Federation’s Sustainable Development Committee, who emphasized the pivotal role the Federation plays in supporting sustainability goals in the Arab world, by linking digital transformation to sustainable development paths, and developing joint Arab digital initiatives and platforms that contribute to raising the efficiency of services and stimulating investment in digital infrastructure.
It is worth noting that the Union is working on building innovative partnership models with the public and private sectors and international organizations, and contributing to reducing the costs of digital transformation for Arab countries and accelerating the adoption of advanced technologies, especially artificial intelligence, in order to support comprehensive development based on knowledge and innovation.
The Union also focuses on building the digital capabilities of Arab youth, and supporting legislation and policies regulating the digital economy, in order to ensure comprehensive development based on knowledge and innovation, and to support the ability of Arab countries to face economic, social and environmental challenges within a sustainable and balanced development framework.
