The Sultanate of Oman has signed the agreement establishing the Global AI Cooperation Organisation becoming one of the 29 founding member states of the new international body, which aims to strengthen international cooperation and global governance of artificial intelligence.

The agreement was signed on behalf of Oman by Dr Ali bin Amer Al Shidhani, Undersecretary for Communications and Information Technology at the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology , who is leading Oman’s delegation at the signing ceremony and the World Artificial Intelligence Conference, in Shanghai,  in the presence of Chinese President Xi Jinping which runs until July 20.

Dr Al Shidhani said Oman’s participation in establishing the new organisation, alongside its participation in the World Artificial Intelligence Conference and last week’s first UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance, reflects the country’s commitment to adopting AI technologies and engaging with the latest global developments in both AI innovation and governance.

He said Oman used these international forums to present its vision of building an inclusive global AI governance framework through international cooperation, supporting technological innovation while ensuring responsible governance that serves the interests of all countries and benefits the global community.

Dr Al Shidhani added that the new organisation, which will be headquartered in Shanghai, will operate as an independent intergovernmental organisation to promote international cooperation, make AI safer and more beneficial for humanity and help narrow the AI gap between countries.

He said Oman’s membership will strengthen its capabilities in developing and deploying AI technologies, enable it to benefit from the expertise of other member states in AI governance and provide access to the latest research and technologies. It will also allow Oman to play an active role in shaping international AI governance and promoting the sustainable and responsible development of artificial intelligence.

Oman’s delegation also includes Dr Khalifa bin Abdullah Al Barwani, Chief Executive Officer of the National Centre for Statistics and Information; Dr Said bin Hamad Al Rubaii, President of the University of Technology and Applied Sciences, and officials specialising in artificial intelligence.