Arab Cybersecurity Ministers Council Meeting

The Council Holds First Regular Session

The first regular session was held on Monday, December 23, 2024. The session was attended by distinguished officials responsible for cybersecurity in the member states.

The Council

About the Council

The Arab Cybersecurity Ministers Council, headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with its affiliated bodies (the General Secretariat and the Executive Office), is a ministerial council for cybersecurity affairs at the Arab level. Comprising Arab ministers or their equivalents, including heads of cybersecurity bodies and committees in member states, it operates under the League of Arab States and falls within the scope of the League Council.

Council Objectives

Contributing to a safe and reliable Arab cyberspace, enabling growth and prosperity for all member states.

Developing and strengthening cooperation and coordinating efforts among Arab countries on all cybersecurity issues, and exchanging knowledge, expertise, studies, and related experiences.

Working to protect the interests of the League's member states in international organizations related to cybersecurity through joint coordination and unifying the Arab position on cybersecurity before international organizations and entities.

Basic System

The basic system of the Arab Cybersecurity Ministers Council was adopted on May 16, 2024, as per Resolution No. (882 D.E. (33) - C2) of the Council of the League of Arab States at the summit level.

Executive Office

About the Executive Office

The Arab Cybersecurity Ministers Council has an Executive Office at the ministerial level, composed of Council members as stipulated in the Council's basic system. The Executive Office's primary tasks include reviewing reports from the Council's General Secretariat and other entities before their inclusion on the Council's agenda; examining and recommending on matters referred to it by the Council, member states, the Secretary-General of the League, or the Council's General Secretariat; and deciding on urgent cybersecurity matters requiring immediate action, and submitting its findings to the Council.

Executive Office Members

Membership in the Executive Office was approved under Resolution No. (Q3 - D1 - 23/12/2024) of the first regular session of the Arab Cybersecurity Ministers Council.

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Chair

Arab Republic of Egypt

Member

Republic of Tunisia

Member

United Arab Emirates

Member

Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

Member

Republic of Iraq

Member

Kingdom of Bahrain

Member

General Secretariat

About the General Secretariat

The General Secretariat of the Arab Cybersecurity Ministers Council, with its permanent headquarters in Riyadh, serves as the Council's technical and administrative body.

About the Secretary-General

His Excellency Dr. Ibraheem Al-Furaih

Dr. Ibrahim Al-Furaih brings nearly 30 years of expertise in information technology, communications, internet, and cybersecurity. His prior roles include Deputy Governor for Strategy and Planning at the National Cybersecurity Authority, where he was instrumental in its establishment and the development of Saudi Arabia's National Cybersecurity Strategy. He also served as Deputy Governor for Users and Partners Affairs at the Communications and Information Technology Commission (now the Communications, Space and Technology Commission), focusing on user protection, cybersecurity, and internet service development. Dr. Al-Furaih's skillset encompasses leadership, strategic planning, internet regulations, telecommunications, infrastructure, and policy development. He holds a PhD in Computer Science from Syracuse University (1998).