Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Albudaiwi said that the leaders of the GCC foresaw the future and worked to achieve integration and convergence in various fields. They emphasized that the journey of cooperation should not be confined to specific areas but should encompass everything that touches human life, security, development, and the economy.
Accordingly, the GCC states have given increasing attention to the AI sector, recognizing its pivotal role in shaping the features of the new global economy.
His statement was made during his participation in the Parliamentary Legislative Forum "Best Legislative Practices in the Field of Artificial Intelligence," held on Tuesday in Abu Dhabi.
He explained that the estimates of the GCC states' investments in this sector have reached tens of billions of dollars over the past few years, with ambitious plans to increase these investments to hundreds of billions by 2030.
This reflects our countries' strategic direction towards building a knowledge-based economy founded on innovation and advanced technologies, and bolstering the region's position as a leading global hub in this field.
Here, the role of legislation becomes prominent in building renewable legal frameworks that strike a balance between two fundamental matters: encouraging innovation and openness to development, as well as protecting rights and human and societal values.
Albudaiwi also highlighted the GCC General Secretariat's commitment to building fruitful partnerships with regional and international centers in the field of AI.
These include the International Center for Artificial Intelligence Research and Ethics (ICAIRE), which is affiliated with the Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as well as cooperation with leading international organizations such as WIPO and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). This cooperation has led to joint Gulf workshops and events, contributing to the exchange of expertise and capacity building.
He touched upon the initiative of the General Secretariat and the approval of the Ministerial Committee for Digital Government to form a team concerned with artificial intelligence and emerging technologies in June 2021.
This team works to support research and development among GCC countries in this field, improve digital government services, and create a flexible regulatory and legislative environment that responds to future requirements.
The secretary-general underscored that the current stage requires the formulation of an integrated vision that elevates cooperation between legislative councils, governments, the private sector, civil society, and academic institutions.
He added that our responsibility today is not limited to enacting new laws, but extends to shaping a social and legislative contract that places the human being at the heart of the AI equation.
He expressed hope that the forum would produce practical recommendations that enhance Gulf legislative cooperation and support the exchange of experiences with international partners to keep pace with the future and ensure the responsible use of AI.
