Riyadh: The State of Qatar, represented by the Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA), participated in the second Arab Working Group Preparatory Meeting for the 2026 ITU Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-26). The meeting was organized by the Arab League in collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the Saudi Communications, Space and Technology Commission, held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
According to Qatar News Agency, representatives from entities related to communications and IT technology across the Arab states attended the event. The discussions focused on preparing for the 2026 conference, which Qatar will host, as part of joint Arab coordination efforts to align positions and enhance the region's presence in this significant international event.
The meeting addressed tasks of specialized working groups under the Arab group, focusing on public policy and legal affairs, administrative and organizational coordination, digital policies and internet issues, and strategic and financial planning. The meeting approved nominations from Arab countries, including Qatar's nomination of Eng. Hussein Abdullah Salat, Director of CRA, as Vice-Chair of the Arab Working Group, and Huda Ahmed Al Karbi, International Relations Researcher at CRA, as Vice-Chair of the Public Policy and Legal Affairs Working Group.
CRA emphasized that preparatory meetings will continue leading up to the conference, highlighting Qatar's ongoing preparations to host the event in November 2026. This underscores the international community's confidence in Qatar's organizational capabilities and its commitment to enhancing regional and global cooperation in communications and IT.
Hosting this event is a milestone for Qatar, reinforcing its role in shaping future global communications sector directions and supporting international efforts for sustainable development. The ITU Plenipotentiary Conference, held every four years, is the highest decision-making authority of the ITU and is responsible for adopting public policies, strategic and financial frameworks, and conducting leadership elections.