TLDR: The Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have signed a new Executive Program to enhance regional digital cooperation through 2026. This initiative, building on the success of the Digital Space Accelerators (DSAs), focuses on unifying efforts in digital government, AI ethics, cross-border data policy, and legislative coordination, aiming to foster resilient and inclusive digital economies.
RIYADH – The Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have officially launched a new Executive Program, solidifying their commitment to strengthening regional digital collaboration. The program, signed by DCO Secretary-General Deemah AlYahya and GCC Secretary-General H.E. Jasem Mohamed AlBudaiwi at the GCC headquarters in Riyadh, outlines a joint roadmap for cooperation through 2026.
This strategic partnership aims to unify efforts and enhance regional and international cooperation in technology and digital transformation, focusing on areas of shared interest. The Executive Program specifically targets key domains including digital government, AI ethics, cross-border data policy, and legislative coordination. It also establishes operational mechanisms to track progress and support the delivery of these initiatives.
The collaboration builds upon the momentum generated by the Digital Space Accelerators (DSAs), a series of high-level dialogues held throughout 2023 and 2024. These DSAs brought together policymakers, private sector leaders, and experts to address critical digital priorities such as women’s participation in ICT, e-waste, misinformation, and startup policy.
DCO Secretary-General Deemah AlYahya emphasized the shift from dialogue to tangible outcomes. “Their Majesties and Highnesses, the Heads of State of the Gulf Cooperation Council, affirmed in their most recent Council declaration that the digital economy is a historic opportunity and a cornerstone for the future of development and integration in the GCC region. Guided by this vision, today we move from dialogue to delivery. The DCO Digital Space Accelerators proved that region-owned collaboration drives real change, and this Executive Program builds on that momentum,” AlYahya stated. She further added, “With the GCC General Secretariat, whose vision and commitment I deeply appreciate, we are focused on strengthening digital skills, trust, inclusion, and sustainability. This partnership is outcome-focused, people-centered, and rooted in the GCC’s aspirations, yet its impact extends beyond the region. The model we have shaped can be adapted for collaborations with other regions worldwide, and the DCO is ready to cooperate with other multilateral organizations who share our belief in inclusive digital prosperity and responsible innovation. Our ultimate aim is resilient and inclusive digital economies that people can trust and benefit from, showing that cooperation grounded in shared purpose can inspire and transform.”
GCC Secretary-General H.E. Jasem Mohamed AlBudaiwi reiterated the GCC’s commitment to these joint efforts, highlighting the importance of unifying strategies to achieve common digital goals.
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The Executive Program also paves the way for broader trilateral cooperation, extending initiatives across regional blocs such as ASEAN, Central Asia, and the European Union. These efforts will focus on capacity building, technology governance, and policy alignment, including joint work on digital skills, startup support, and AI ethics. Insights from the DSAs and the current dialogue will be consolidated into policy recommendations for the GCC Ministerial Meeting on the Digital Economy in October 2025, aiming to embed these joint initiatives into national and regional plans.
