Oman Becomes Founding Member of World AI Cooperation Organization

Date Published: 17 July 2026

Agreement Signed During the Opening of the World Artificial Intelligence Conference Attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

H.E. Dr Ali bin Amur Al Shidhani: Oman's accession as a founding member positions the Sultanate as an active contributor to shaping international rules for AI governance.

The Sultanate of Oman has become a founding member of the World AI Cooperation Organization after signing the agreement establishing the international organisation in Shanghai, China. Oman is among the 29 founding member states of the new organisation, which aims to promote international cooperation and strengthen global AI governance.

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The agreement was signed on behalf of the Sultanate of Oman by H.E. Dr Ali bin Amur Al Shidhani, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology for Communications and Information Technology, who is leading Oman's delegation participating in the official signing ceremony and the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC), which opened on Friday in Shanghai in the presence of Chinese President Xi Jinping and will continue until 20 July. The Omani delegation also includes H.E. Dr Khalifa bin Abdullah Al Barwani, Chief Executive Officer of the National Centre for Statistics and Information, H.E. Dr Said bin Hamad Al Rabiee, President of the University of Technology and Applied Sciences, together with a number of senior officials specialising in artificial intelligence.

H.E. Dr Al Shidhani said that Oman's participation in founding the World AI Cooperation Organization, together with its participation in the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai and, a week earlier, the first United Nations Global Dialogue on AI Governance, reflects Oman's active engagement with the rapid global developments in artificial intelligence and its governance across Europe, Asia and other regions of the world.

He added that, through these major international AI forums across both East and West, Oman has consistently promoted its vision of working collaboratively with all countries to establish a global AI governance framework that guides the development and advancement of artificial intelligence while taking into account the interests of all countries. Such an approach, he noted, helps strengthen international cooperation and achieve a balanced relationship between technological innovation and responsible governance for the benefit of the global community.

H.E. Dr Al Shidhani explained that the World AI Cooperation Organization, headquartered in Shanghai, will operate as an independent intergovernmental organisation dedicated to strengthening international cooperation to make artificial intelligence safer and more beneficial for humanity, while helping bridge the artificial intelligence divide between countries. He stressed that Oman's membership will enhance the Sultanate's capabilities in developing and deploying artificial intelligence, enable it to benefit from the experiences of fellow member states in AI governance, and provide access to the latest technologies and research in the field. It will also enable Oman to play an active role in shaping international AI governance rules and supporting the sustainable, safe and beneficial advancement of artificial intelligence for the benefit of all.