Ashraf AboArafe
Proceedings of the Fifth Edition of the International Mining Conference
and the Tenth Consultative Meeting of Arab Ministers Responsible for Mineral Resources
Riyadh – Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
13–15 January 2026
Pursuant to the directives of His Excellency the Secretary-General, a delegation from the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States took part in the proceedings of the fifth edition of the International Mining Conference, as well as the Tenth Consultative Meeting of Arab Ministers concerned with mineral resources. The delegation was headed by H.E. Ambassador Mohamed Saleh Al-Ajiri, Assistant Secretary-General and Head of the Administrative and Financial Affairs Sector. The events were held in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The conference and consultative meeting brought together a number of Arab ministers responsible for mineral resources, alongside leading Arab, regional, and international organizations active in the mining and mineral wealth sector.
In his address, Ambassador Al-Ajiri affirmed that the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States places great importance on deepening Arab cooperation in this vital sector across all its dimensions. He commended the role of the Arab Organization for Industrial Development, Standardization and Mining in completing and activating the recommendations of the ninth consultative meeting, which serve as a guiding roadmap for energy-transition minerals in the Arab region. He also highlighted achievements such as the Unified Mining Terminology Dictionary and the efforts of member states to advance the Arab Initiative for Artificial Intelligence in the mineral resources sector.
Ambassador Al-Ajiri extended his sincere thanks to the leadership and people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for their warm welcome and generous hospitality. He further expressed appreciation for the Arab Organization for Industrial Development’s commitment to implementing programs aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals 2030, strengthening cooperation, and forging partnerships with Arab, regional, and international institutions operating in this field. He praised the organization’s adoption of artificial intelligence technologies and the integration of AI applications into the projects and initiatives under its supervision.
Finally, he underscored the role of Arab states in promoting the Arab Platform for Future Minerals by publishing it on the official websites of their relevant ministries, in order to introduce its services and outputs to all stakeholders interested in the industry and mining sector.
