Oman signs agreement to become founding member of Global AI Cooperation Organisation

Muscat: The Sultanate of Oman has officially signed the agreement establishing the Global AI Cooperation Organisation, becoming one of the 29 founding member states of the new international body. The organization aims to strengthen international cooperation and advance the global governance of artificial intelligence.

According to the Foreign Ministry, the agreement was signed on behalf of Oman by Dr. Ali bin Amer Al Shidhani, Undersecretary for Communications and Information Technology at the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, who is leading the Omani delegation at the signing ceremony and the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai. The high-profile event, attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping, runs until July 20.

Dr. Al Shidhani stated that Oman’s role in establishing this new organization, alongside its participation in the Shanghai conference and the recent UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance, reflects the Sultanate's commitment to adopting AI technologies and engaging with the latest global developments in innovation and regulatory frameworks. He noted that Oman utilized these international forums to present its vision of building an inclusive global AI governance framework through international cooperation, supporting technological innovation while ensuring responsible governance that serves the interests of all countries and benefits the global community.

Headquartered in Shanghai, the newly formed body will operate as an independent intergovernmental organization dedicated to promoting international cooperation, making AI safer and more beneficial for humanity, and helping narrow the digital divide between nations. Dr. Al Shidhani added that Oman’s membership will strengthen its local capabilities in developing and deploying AI technologies, enable it to benefit from the expertise of other member states, and provide direct access to cutting-edge research. It will also allow Oman to play an active role in shaping international regulatory policies and promoting sustainable artificial intelligence development.

Oman’s delegation to the summit also includes Dr. Khalifa bin Abdullah Al Barwani, Chief Executive Officer of the National Centre for Statistics and Information, and Dr. Said bin Hamad Al Rubaii, President of the University of Technology and Applied Sciences, alongside several other Omani officials specializing in artificial intelligence.