AI strategic Orientations: From Vision to Action
08:00 - 09:00
Registration & Networking Coffee
MC: Mr. Bocar BA

CEO at SAMENA Council

HIGH-LEVEL OPENING SESSION
09:00 – 09:30
HE/ Eng. Mohamed Ben Amor

Director General of the Arab ICT Organization

ME/Mr. Mohamed Ali NAFTI

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration, and Tunisians Abroad – Republic of Tunisia

HE/ Mr. Sofien Hemissi

Tunisian Minister of Communication Technologies – Republic of Tunisia

HE. Mrs. Doreen Bogdan-Martin

Secretary-General of ITU

HE/Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit

Secretary-General of the League of Arab States

High-level Leaders addresses
09:30 – 09:45
Dr. Bilel Jamoussi

Deputy Director of TSB & Chief, Study Groups & Policy Department (SPD) - International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

High-level Keynote Address

“From Information Society to Intelligence Society”

09:45 – 11:00
Mr. Ayman El-Sherbiny

Chief of ICT Policies and Digital Development - United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UN-ESCWA)

HE. Mr. Sofien Hemissi

Tunisian Minister of Communication Technologies – Republic of Tunisia

HE/Mr. MMADI HASSANI Oumouri

Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Digital Economy - Union of the Comoros

HE/Mr. Abdulbaset Salem ALBAOUR

Chairman of the General Authority for Communications and Informatics – Libya

HE/ Mrs. Hoda Al-Wahaidi

Deputy Minister of Communications and Digital Economy - Palestine & Head of the Executive Council of AICTO

HE. Mrs. Doreen Bogdan-Martin

Secretary-General of ITU

HE/ Eng. Mohamed Ben Amor

Director General of the Arab ICT Organization

HE/Mr. Lacina Koné

Director General and CEO of Smart Africa

High-level WSIS+20 Panel: WSIS+20 Outcomes and Future Directions towards “Intelligence Society”

This ministerial panel will reflect on the outcomes of WSIS+20, share national and regional/ global perspectives, and explore inclusive and collaborative pathways to advance the information society and sustainable digital development, with particular attention to the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence. This high-level panel will conclude with the Tunis declaration about the WSIS: “Advancing the Transition from the Information Society to the Intelligent Society”.

11:00 - 11:15
Mr. Felix FENG

President of Huawei Cloud Northern Africa

Keynote
11:15 – 11:45
Networking Coffee-Break & Visit to “AI Innovation Pavilion” + AI Startups’ Village
11:45 - 12:00
Dr. Maen Al QATAMIN

Founder and Chairman of EntreViable Jordan

Keynote
12:00 – 13:00
Dr. Adel BESROUR

Vice President of Products and Innovation, Sahab National Company – Saudi Arabia

Dr. Ali FAHMI

Dean of the College of Artificial Intelligence at the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport

Dr. Houda BARAKA

Advisor of The Egyptian Minister of ICT for Technology Talents Development & Chair of the Arab AI WG

Pr. Abdelmajid Ben AMARA

Secretary-General of the Union of Arab Scientific Research Councils

Dr. Mohammad Firas BAKOUR

Chairman of the Arab Union for Internet and Communications – ARISPA

Dr. Aymen GHONEIM

Assistant Secretary General of the Arab Federation for Digital Economy – AFDE

The Road to the “Intelligence Society”: Unveiling the AI Landscape in the Region and Unifying the Future through Building the Regional AI Innovation Ecosystem
This session, anchored in the Arab AI Initiative and the strategic guidance of the League of Arab States’ General Secretary, will present the unified regional approach to Artificial Intelligence. The keynote speech and the interventions will detail the major milestones and concerted efforts undertaken under the League’s umbrella, including:  – The strategic objectives of the Arab AI Initiative, which aims to harness AI for sustainable development –  The process of the Arab AI Strategy and its institutional frameworks –  The principles embedded in the Arab AI Ethical Charter ensuring responsible, culturally aware, and Arab values-driven AI deployment. The discussion will showcase regional advances in governance, infrastructure, capacity building, and applied research, while directly addressing the strategic challenges and opportunities inherent in building a pan-Arab AI ecosystem.  Participants will gain critical insights into how the League of Arab States is unifying the efforts of ecosystem players—policymakers, regulators, industry, regional organizations, and academia—to create an inclusive, ethical, and competitive Arab Intelligence Society. This collaborative vision is essential for ensuring technological sovereignty, bridging the digital divide, and positioning the Arab world as a leader in the global knowledge economy.
13:00 – 13:30
Dr. Abdulrahman Bin Tariq HABIB

Director of the International Center for Artificial Intelligence Research and Ethics (ICAIRE) Deputy Chief Strategy Officer at the Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA) - Saudi Arabia

Mr. Azzam SOUALMIA

Entrepreneur & Founder of Swiver, Driving Innovation in Startups

AI Excellence: Success Stories and Scalable Impact Showcase

This session is designed to be a dynamic platform for inspiration and practical learning. It will showcase inspiring, real-world AI success stories drawn from leading countries, pioneering organizations, and influential personalities that have effectively translated ambitious AI strategies into tangible, scalable outcomes.

Key Focus Areas :

  • Best Practice Dissemination: Leaders will share proven methodologies and implementation frameworks for ethical, responsible, and effective AI deployment across key sectors.
  • Lessons Learned: Presenters will openly discuss critical challenges encountered during the implementation of large-scale AI initiatives, providing invaluable insights and lessons learned for mitigating risk and avoiding common pitfalls.
  • Scalable Initiatives: The session will highlight « blueprints for success »—initiatives that demonstrate high potential for replication and adoption across the Arab region, driving both regional and global AI advancement and accelerating the path to the Intelligence Society.

The goal is to provide attendees with a practical roadmap and actionable inspiration for successfully implementing their own AI strategies and AI-driven business.

Showcase of the Kingdom’s experience in the Incentive Badges Initiative for AI Ethics

Swiver has successfully harnessed AI to streamline operations, deliver predictive insights, and drive scalable, intelligent solutions for clients across the region

13:30 – 14:30
Lunch & « AI Innovation Pavillon » + «AI Startups’ Village » Tour
14:30 – 15:30
Dr. Nibal IDELBI

Senior Advisor in Digital Transformation and Innovation Policies - Former Director at UN-ESCWA

Mr. Hadi KOBEISSI

PwC Partner - Technology & Digital Consulting

Dr. Mohamad Nawar Al-AWA

Regional Advisor on Technology for Development - UN-ESCWA

Mr. Daniel PAP

Legal Advisor to the Committee on Artificial Intelligence (CAI), Digital Development Unit, Council of Europe

Mr. Anatoly MOTKIN

President - StrategEast

Mr. Adnane Ben HALIMA

Vice President in Charge of Public Relations of Huawei Northern Africa

Policy Roundtable: “AI Governance: Interoperability towards regional and Global vision”
This high-impact Policy Roundtable convenes leading AI experts and policymakers from national, regional, and global levels to tackle the critical challenge of interoperable AI governance. The session will serve as a platform to strategize and forge innovative pathways for regulatory harmonization. Participants will engage in focused discussions on how to: •      Align National Strategies: Ensure individual national AI plans and regulatory frameworks are mutually compatible with broader regional objectives and evolving global standards. •      Drive Cross-Border Collaboration: Catalyze necessary cooperation in data governance, infrastructure security, and ethical adherence to facilitate the seamless deployment of AI technologies across the Arab region. •      Shape a Unified Future: Develop effective, principles-based AI regulatory and governance frameworks that robustly address unique regional priorities while meeting rigorous international standards for responsible, ethical, and effective AI adoption.   The ultimate goal is to move beyond disparate policies to create a unified regulatory environment essential for building a competitive and trusted Arab AI innovation ecosystem that can effectively engage with the global digital economy.
15:30 - 15:45
Mr. Wael EZZAT

Head of Public Policy & Government Relations, TikTok North Africa

Keynote: "AI Ethics & Governance"
15:45 – 16:30
Mrs. Areej ATALLA

Head of Social and Human Sciences Sector at UNESCO Cairo Office.

Mr. Mohamed FARAHAT

Legal Expert, a member of the UNESCO Global Network of Experts on Ethics of AI and the Rule of Law - Egypt

Dr. Toumi BOUCHENTOUF

Professor at the National School of Applied Sciences of Oujda (ENSAO) at Mohammed Premier University in Morocco (UMP) – Morocco

Dr. Hichem BESBES

Professor at Sup'Com, University of Carthage & the Principal Expert for the Tunisian AI Readiness Assessment Report. - Tunisia

Dr. Houda BARAKA

ICT Minister's Advisor for Talents Development and AI National Lead, Chair of the Arab AI Working Group at the League of Arab States

Dr. Abdulrahman Bin Tariq HABIB

Director of the International Center for Artificial Intelligence Research and Ethics (ICAIRE) Deputy Chief Strategy Officer at the Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA) - Saudi Arabia

Deep Dive Session (UNESCO): Responsible AI & Ethics: From guidelines to actions
This session is focused on moving beyond ethical AI principles and guidelines toward concrete actions in the responsible development and deployment of AI technologies. It explores the practical implementation of UNESCO’s Global Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, specifically through the Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM).   It aims to translate high-level ethical guidelines into actionable strategies, fostering accountability and ethical AI impact in the Arab region, to ensure AI tools are used responsibly and inclusively, leaving no one behind and serving as a tool for the benefit of humanity.   Key themes of such sessions typically include:   •      Practical pathways for embedding ethical AI principles into real-world AI systems and policies. •      Strengthening AI governance ensures sustainability, non-discrimination, and human rights protection. •      Implementation challenges and successes across different sectors in the Arab countries. •      Role of governments, private sector, and civil society in ethical AI adoption. •      Tools like readiness and ethical impact assessments initiated by UNESCO to guide responsible AI integration.   The session will focus on the UNESCO RAM and the experiences of Arab countries that have initiated the RAM process or completed their reports, with the aim to motivate and guide other countries to engage in the process.
16:30 – 17:30
Mr. Kamel SAADAOUI

Chairman of the National Regulatory Authority of Tunisia - INTT

Dr. Khaled WALI

Minister plenipotentiary, Director of ICTs Dept. League of Arab States (LAS)

Mrs. Aitana RATIER WERBIN

Legal Officer, Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence, Ministry of Digital Transformation and Civil Service (Spain); Member of the Council of Europe Committee on Artificial Intelligence (CAI)

Mrs. Sylvia SOLLF

Practice Manager for Digital – Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan (MENAAP) – World Bank

Dr. Islam AMRO

National Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence Center (NDTC) – Palestine

Mr. Calvain Nangue

Strategic Advisor – ICT Skills and SADA Sustainability, Smart Africa

Pan-Regional dialogue: “From fragmentation to Convergence.”
This Pan-Regional panel will focus on the critical need to unify disparate approaches to AI regulation and national strategy across different regions. The dialogue will move beyond identifying problems to actively mapping pathways toward the development of coherent governance frameworks that are essential for fostering genuine collaboration, mutual trust, and seamless interoperability.   Key discussions will center on extracting valuable lessons learned from existing regional and global initiatives, pinpointing specific opportunities for alignment, and exploring models for inclusive, multi-stakeholder governance.   Ultimately, this dialogue aims to articulate a strategic vision that ensures the adoption and application of AI reliably serve both shared regional interests and broader global priorities for responsible and sustainable technological advancement.
Innovation, Leadership & Global Outlook
09:30 – 10:30
Mr. Anatoly MOTKIN

President - StrategEast

Mr. Michel ROGY

Regional Director, World Bank

Mr. Lucky La RICCIA

Vice President and Head of Cloud Software & Services, Ericsson Europe, Middle East & Africa

Ms. Nadia BRAHMI

Technology Director, GSMA

Mr. Karim AHRES

CEO, Netcom Tunisia

Mr. Moez KAMOUN

Partner – Consulting Leader – PwC Tunisia

Plenary Session: Building the Intelligence Society: Innovating for Regional Leadership

This high-profile Plenary Session is dedicated to exploring how innovation serves as the foundational engine driving the development and realization of the Arab and Regional Intelligence Society.

The discussion will move beyond theoretical potential to highlight tangible key initiatives and breakthrough technological advancements currently shaping the regional AI landscape.

Crucially, the session will emphasize the necessity of deep synergy among core ecosystem stakeholders:

• Policymakers: Providing clear, forward-looking guidance, governance frameworks, and harmonized regulations that ensure responsible and trustworthy AI deployment.
• Industry: Leading application, commercialization, and the adoption of ethical-by-design AI solutions.
• Academia: Fueling foundational research, talent development, and the integration of AI ethics and governance into educational and research programs.
• Other Stakeholders: Including startups, civil society, and investors who contribute to innovation while upholding transparency, accountability, and fairness.

In parallel, the session will underscore the centrality of robust governance and ethical safeguards—including regional interoperability of standards, transparent data practices, accountability mechanisms, and inclusive design—to ensure that technological progress is aligned with societal values and public trust.

The ultimate objective is to delineate a shared, actionable roadmap for fostering regional leadership, achieving true digital integration across Arab countries, and sustaining a forward-looking, competitive digital ecosystem capable of driving economic transformation, societal well-being, and ethically grounded innovation.

10:30 – 10:45
Ms. Sihem MHISSEN

Director of Corporate Information Systems at Tunisie Telecom

Keynote

“Sustainable AI Infrastructure : Building a Sovereign Digital Future for the Arab Region”

10:45 – 11:05
Dr. Rim FAIZ

Professor at IHEC of Carthage – Tunisia

Mr. Helmi RAIS

Cybersecurity Expert and Evangelist- Head of Cybersecurity Practice – Expleo Group - France

Deep Dive Session: Quantum-Resilient AI: Securing Generative Systems in the Post Quantum Era
The convergence of Artificial Intelligence and quantum computing is redefining both innovation and risk. As quantum technologies rapidly advance, the cryptographic foundations that secure today’s digital and AI ecosystems face unprecedented disruption. At the same time, generative AI systems—now deeply integrated into decision making, cybersecurity operations, and critical infrastructures—represent a new class of high-value assets vulnerable to quantum-enabled attacks. In this emerging landscape, quantum resilience is no longer a theoretical pursuit; it is a strategic imperative.
11:05 – 11:25
Networking Coffee-Break & Visit to “AI Innovation Pavilion” + AI Startups’ Village
11:25 – 11:45
Arab AI Hackathon 2025 Awarding Ceremony
The Arab AI Hackathon 2025 Awarding Ceremony celebrates the creativity and technical excellence of young Arab researchers and innovators who have explored applied research on AI and its Arab applications to address regional challenges. The event honors their achievements, highlights the transformative potential of AI in the Arab region, and inspires the next generation of AI leaders to continue driving innovation and positive impact.
11:45 – 12:45
Dr. Mohamed HAMDI

Professor - SUP'COM

Dr. Nibal IDELBI

Senior Advisor in Digital Transformation and Innovation Policies - Former Director at UN-ESCWA

Mr. Dorloi VAN

Presales Engineer - Zoho Corporation - ManageEngine

Dr. Maël PEGNY

AI Consultant - Sama Partner

Mr. Hosni CHAIEB

Global Business Development Director at Neoledge

Mr. Yassine FRIAA

Digital Transformation Officer – Tunisian Poste

AI Innovation Showcase: Presentations & Demos

This session is a dynamic and interactive platform designed to bring together cutting-edge AI solutions from across the globe. The showcase will feature presentations and live demonstrations of advanced AI applications currently transforming key sectors, including healthcare, education, agriculture, and smart cities, alongside cutting-edge tools focused on ethical AI, digital trust, and robust data governance.
The session will specifically emphasize innovations that demonstrate a commitment to responsible, sovereign AI adoption, ensuring that technological progress respects local values and maintains data control. Serving as a hub for knowledge exchange, the showcase actively fosters cross-regional collaboration, the sharing of best practices, and the necessary investment and partnership to scale impactful AI innovations that drive sustainable economic growth and accelerate global digital transformation while securing digital sovereignty for the region.

12:45 – 13:45
Mr. Azzam SOUALMIA

Entrepreneur & Founder of Swiver, Driving Innovation in Startups

Mr. Ammar HAMADIEN

Consultant – Principal Consultant & Responsible of Strategic Partnerships – Salience Consulting

Mr. Daniel del VALLE

First Ambassador of the International Youth Organization to the United Nations

Mr. Mohamed DERBALA

Managing Partner – Africa Business Hub at M&P

Dr. Ashraf ABDELHADI

Director of the National Digital Transformation & Artificial Intelligence Center (NDTC) at the Arab American University – Palestine

Mr. Adnen CHOUIBI

CEO - Pledge Development

Mr. Adnen LABIDI

Instaware

Ms. Manel ENNAHEDH

Terrasens

AI NextGen Stage: Empowering Arab Innovators through Engaging Dialogue
This platform is a dynamic showcase dedicated to spotlighting and celebrating exceptional Arab startups and young innovators who are actively harnessing the power of Artificial Intelligence to deliver impactful, scalable, and sustainable solutions for the region and the world.   The AI NextGen Stage provides a unique and essential space for youth-led initiatives to:   ·         Showcase Cutting-Edge Projects: Present their AI innovations and technologies. ·         Facilitate Direct Dialogue: Engage in meaningful, two-way conversation and mentorship with key ecosystem leaders, ensuring youth perspectives directly inform the regional agenda. ·         Bridge the Gap: Create a crucial space for youth to exchange ideas and share experiences with policymakers, industry leaders, investors, and technical experts, addressing real-world challenges in scaling their businesses.   Through these focused interactions, the session aims to inspire the next wave of innovation, amplify youth voices in the digital transformation conversation, and accelerate the Arab region’s journey toward an inclusive, future-ready, and youth-driven digital economy by directly connecting talent with resources and governance.
13:45 – 14:45
Lunch & Pavilion Tour
14:45 – 15:15
Pr. Janane KHOURY

Lecturer at the Lebanese University and an international expert in cyber legislation and Artificial Intelligence - Lebanon

Dr. Houda BARAKA

Advisor to The Egyptian Minister of ICT for Technology Talents Development & Chair of the Arab AI WG

Ms. Nadia BRAHMI

Technology Director - GSMA

Dr. Mona Nabil DEMAIDI

Vice President for AI and Director of International Relations at AAUP - Palestine

Dr. Rim FAIZ

Professor at IHEC of Carthage – Tunisia

Voices of Innovation: “Arab Women Leadership in AI”

This powerful session is a dedicated spotlight and celebratory platform highlighting the extraordinary achievements, insights, and perspectives of pioneering Arab women leaders in the field of Artificial Intelligence. The platform enables these influential women to share their transformative experiences and inspire the next generation, while engaging in strategic dialogue focused on concrete measures for fostering gender diversity, inclusion, and equitable opportunity within the rapidly evolving AI ecosystem, thereby securing Arab women’s leadership role in building the future Intelligence Society.

 

15:15 -16:15
Minister Plenipotentiary Dr. Nada El AGIZI

Director of Sustainable Development and International Cooperation Department - League of Arab States

HE/ Eng. Mohamed Ben AMOR

Director General of the Arab ICT Organization

Dr. Mostafa H. HODEIB

President of the Arab Academy for Administrative, Financial, and Banking Sciences

Dr. Mohammad Firas BAKOUR

Chairman of the Arab Union for Internet and Communications – ARISPA

Mr. Fayçal BAYOULI

Expert ICT – Candidate of Tunisia for the post of UAT SG

Discussion session: “Technology for Achieving Sustainable Development: Strengthening Sustainable Regional Partnerships”

Within the framework of the follow-up of the implementation of the roadmap: “Towards Sustainable Digital Transformation 2025-2030”, This session will focus on the importance of “building sustainable regional partnerships in the fields of technology” and on strengthening joint action among various stakeholders in the Arab region, including governments, research institutions, the private sector, regional organizations, and civil society, with the aim of achieving a tangible and sustainable collective developmental impact. The session will present successful models of regional cooperation in the areas of digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and innovation, and will discuss mechanisms for building strategic partnerships based on trust, knowledge exchange, and alignment of efforts and visions to address common challenges and achieve inclusive digital development in the Arab region.

The session will include several questions for the speakers under the following themes:

·         Opportunities for Arab–international cooperation to accelerate smart and sustainable digital transformation.

·         The role of governments, the private sector, and universities in building an effective innovation ecosystem.

·         Proposed regional initiatives to enhance the use of technology—especially artificial intelligence—in development: “AI for Good.”

·         Sustainable financing mechanisms and technical support for technology projects with social impact.

16:15 – 16:30
Closing Ceremony Declaration “The Arab Intelligence Society: A Pathway and Roadmap”

The declaration will present a strategic vision for building an inclusive, innovative, and competitive Arab Intelligence Society. The declaration outlines key milestones, initiatives, and collaborative efforts across the region, providing a clear roadmap for responsible AI adoption, digital transformation, and regional integration.

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