Doha: Qatar has opened the 8th National Conference on Internal Auditing, bringing together senior officials, experts and practitioners from across the Arab world to discuss ways to enhance the value of internal audit functions.

According to Qatar News Agency, the conference was inaugurated by HE Dr Abdulaziz bin Nasser bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, President of the Civil Service and Government Development Bureau and Secretary-General of the National Planning Council. Held under the theme "Pushing the Value Creation Boundaries," the event aims to raise awareness of the role of internal auditing in improving performance, governance, and risk management.

In his opening address, HE Dr Al Khalifa emphasized the government's commitment to strengthening administrative modernization and improving institutional performance through more efficient human resources and effective organizational structures. He highlighted that internal auditing plays a vital role in institutional development and represents a key source of added value within government entities.

His Excellency also highlighted Qatar's Government Excellence Program as a comprehensive framework focused on good governance, integration between human capital and technology, and the creation of a balanced work environment that promotes efficiency and innovation.

Dr Al Khalifa noted the growing expectations placed on internal auditors require advanced professional skills and the ability to adapt to rapidly changing work environments. He added that developing and retaining national talent remains a major challenge, particularly in the internal audit profession.

As part of efforts to address this, he mentioned that the bureau had launched a professional certification initiative to support Qatari employees in acquiring advanced skills, pointing to the Certified Internal Auditor qualification as one of the most prominent internationally recognized credentials.

For his part, President of the Institute of Internal Auditors in Qatar, Adel Al Hashimi, stated that the conference aims to position internal auditing as a value-adding function within Arab institutions. He noted that more than 30 local and international speakers are participating in over 19 sessions and workshops over two days.

Discussions will focus on topics including artificial intelligence applications, governance, risk management, digital forensics, cybercrime, and the impact of global uncertainty on the role of internal auditors.