Riyadh: The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) has entered into a cooperation agreement with the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) to spearhead the adoption and implementation of the Riyadh Charter on Artificial Intelligence across ICESCO’s 53 member states. This collaboration seeks to establish a unified and ethical framework for AI governance, promoting responsible practices and innovation while addressing common challenges.

According to Saudi Press Agency, the agreement was formalized at SDAIA headquarters in Riyadh, with SDAIA President Dr. Abdullah Al-Ghamdi and ICESCO Director-General Dr. Salim Al-Malik signing the document. The agreement emphasizes enhanced cooperation in various areas, particularly the implementation of joint initiatives based on the principles of the Riyadh Charter. These principles cover aspects such as integrity and fairness, privacy and security, reliability and safety, transparency and explicability, accountability and responsibility, humanitarian values, and social and environmental benefits.

The collaboration aims to foster the development of AI knowledge and skills within ICESCO member states, build specialized national capacities in AI and related fields, and ensure the safe and reliable use of AI technologies. ICESCO Head of the Strategic Foresight and Artificial Intelligence Center Dr. Kais Hammami highlighted that the Riyadh Charter provides a unified governance framework for AI, grounded in a humanitarian and forward-looking vision aligned with the Islamic world’s civilizational and cultural values. It supports member states’ efforts to utilize AI technologies in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals.