DCO and GCC Strengthen Regional Digital Cooperation with New Executive Program

The Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) held a high-level dialogue at the GCC headquarters in Riyadh to advance digital collaboration in the region.

The meeting built on the 2023–2024 Digital Space Accelerators (DSAs), which brought together policymakers, experts, and private sector leaders to address key digital priorities. Insights from these initiatives are now guiding the next phase of regional collaboration.

During the event, GCC Secretary-General H.E. Jasem Mohamed AlBudaiwi and DCO Secretary-General Deemah AlYahya signed an Executive Program outlining a joint roadmap for digital cooperation through 2026. The program focuses on areas including digital government, AI ethics, cross-border data policy, and legislative alignment.

H.E. AlBudaiwi highlighted the importance of topics such as empowering women in IT, combating misinformation, managing e-waste, and supporting startups. “These initiatives aim to build an integrated system that balances digital growth, environmental protection, cultural preservation, and economic diversification,” he said.

Deemah AlYahya emphasized the shift from dialogue to action. “The digital economy is a historic opportunity for the GCC. This Executive Program turns our discussions into tangible outcomes, strengthening digital skills, trust, inclusion, and sustainability across the region,” she said.

Four key panels presented priority initiatives:

• Increasing women’s participation in the digital economy through campaigns, mentorship, and tools.

• Rolling out Saudi Arabia’s “Recycle Your Device” e-waste initiative.

• Establishing a regional working group to combat online misinformation.

• Supporting adoption of the DCO Model Startup Act to align startup ecosystems across member states.

The program also sets the stage for broader regional cooperation with groups like ASEAN, Central Asia, and the EU, focusing on digital skills, technology governance, and AI ethics.

The DCO will consolidate findings from the DSAs and this dialogue into policy recommendations for the GCC Ministerial Meeting on the Digital Economy in October 2025, embedding joint initiatives into national and regional plans.

The dialogue reinforced the role of both organizations as leaders in digital cooperation, emphasizing shared frameworks, stronger coordination, and faster progress on core digital priorities.