Saudi Arabia Chairs 118th Session of Arab League Economic and Social Council

Saudi Arabia chaired the 118th ministerial session of the Arab League’s Economic and Social Council on Thursday at the organization’s headquarters in Cairo.

Abdullah bin Zaraah, Saudi assistant minister of finance for macro-fiscal policies and international relations, presided over the meeting. Representatives from Arab League member states also took part.

The session addressed economic and social issues of common interest, including efforts to strengthen cooperation, support development, expand intra-Arab trade and create more opportunities for regional integration and growth.

In Saudi Arabia’s statement, bin Zaraah said joint Arab economic and social action formed a key pillar for strengthening the region’s collective capacity to confront challenges and make use of available opportunities. He urged member states to move beyond coordination and exchanges of views toward implementation and tangible results.

He called for stronger follow-up and implementation mechanisms, with decisions and initiatives tied to clear objectives and measurable indicators. He also advocated closer coordination among Arab joint-action institutions and specialized organizations, while directing resources and capabilities toward priorities expected to have the greatest impact.

Bin Zaraah also highlighted Saudi Arabia’s national achievements. He said the World Bank Group’s World Development Report 2026 ranked the Kingdom among the world’s top 10 countries for private investment in artificial intelligence and recognized its advanced position in the global AI landscape.

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Joint Arab economic and social action is a key pillar for strengthening our collective capacity to address challenges and capitalize on opportunities.