Kuwait City, Kuwait. The Digital Cooperation Organisation concluded its fifth General Assembly in Kuwait this week, with member states adopting the Kuwait Declaration on Responsible AI for Global Digital Prosperity and agreeing on actions to advance inclusive and trusted digital transformation.
General Assembly and agenda review
The General Assembly was convened on February 4–5, 2026 under the Presidency of the State of Kuwait, bringing together ministers, representatives of DCO member states, observers, partners and guest countries to review progress under the organisation’s four-year agenda for 2025–2028.
Discussions focused on translating shared ambitions on artificial intelligence into coordinated delivery, while assessing progress on multilateral initiatives spanning digital policy, investment and governance.
Kuwait Declaration on Responsible AI
Member states adopted the Kuwait Declaration, reaffirming a collective commitment to inclusive, resilient and sustainable digital transformation in an era increasingly shaped by AI.
The declaration recognises AI’s potential to enhance productivity, competitiveness and public service delivery, while stressing the need for ethical governance frameworks to address risks linked to inequality, bias, privacy and security. It also reaffirms the DCO’s mission of enabling digital prosperity for all under its current four-year agenda.
Frameworks, initiatives and outcomes
Member states endorsed policy and delivery frameworks intended to accelerate trusted digital growth, including the Model Digital Economy Agreement and tools designed to enable trusted cross-border data flows.
Progress was reviewed across initiatives covering digital economy measurement, data sovereignty, startup regulation, digital government solutions, investment facilitation, ethical AI, AI readiness, women-led micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, digital skills, online safety and e-waste cooperation. Member states underscored the importance of measurable outcomes and scalable impact across these initiatives.
Upcoming leadership changes
During the General Assembly, it was announced that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will assume the Presidency of the DCO Council in 2027, alongside the formation of an Executive Committee chaired by Saudi Arabia and comprising Ghana, Rwanda, Djibouti, Pakistan, Kuwait and Morocco.
How do you think responsible AI governance frameworks should balance innovation with protections for privacy and security?
