Saudi Arabia chairs Arab Economic and Social Council meeting in Cairo

The Economic and Social Council of the Arab League convened its 118th ministerial session on Thursday at the League’s headquarters in Cairo, with Saudi Arabia presiding. Abdullah bin Abdulrahman bin Zaraa, Assistant Minister of Finance for Macro-Fiscal Policies and International Relations, chaired the session, attended by representatives of member states.

The council discussed a range of economic and social issues of shared Arab interest, focusing on strengthening cooperation among member states, supporting development pathways, and boosting intra-Arab trade to expand opportunities for integration and growth in the region.

Emphasis on joint action and effective implementation

In Saudi Arabia’s address to the meeting, bin Zaraa stressed that joint Arab economic and social action is a fundamental pillar for addressing challenges and seizing opportunities. He highlighted the importance of moving from coordination and exchanging views to implementation and achieving tangible results, through developing mechanisms for execution and follow-up, linking initiatives to clear objectives and measurable indicators, and enhancing coordination between joint Arab institutions and specialized organizations.

Showcasing Saudi achievements in development and technology

The Assistant Minister of Finance reviewed Saudi Arabia’s national achievements, noting that the World Development Report 2026 by the World Bank Group ranked the Kingdom among the world’s top ten countries for investment in artificial intelligence and highlighted its regional leadership in government data integration. He also pointed to the launch of the world’s first virtual hospital in Saudi Arabia and the Kingdom’s progress in investing in digital infrastructure and capacity building, supporting the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.

Competitive progress and a leading humanitarian role

Bin Zaraa stated that Saudi Arabia ranked 13th globally and third among G20 countries in the IMD World Competitiveness Report 2026, in addition to its strong position in economic growth forecasts for 2026 and 2027 according to the International Monetary Fund, despite regional and global challenges. He also affirmed the Kingdom’s ongoing humanitarian and development role through the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, supporting countries affected by crises and disasters.

In closing, bin Zaraa expressed hope that the new session would further strengthen joint Arab action and lead to decisions that address current challenges and open new avenues for economic and social cooperation in the Arab world.

The Economic and Social Council is one of the main bodies of the Arab League, comprising ministers responsible for economic and financial affairs in member states. It holds two sessions annually to enhance economic and social cooperation and prepare issues for Arab summits.