We, Haitham bin Tarik, the Sultan of Oman
after perusal of the Basic Statute of the State,
and the Charter of the Establishment of the Digital Cooperation Organization signed in the city of Riyadh on 5 February 2023,
and in pursuance of public interest,
have decreed as follows
Article I
The mentioned charter is hereby ratified in the form attached.
Article II
Competent entities shall deposit the instrument of ratification for the mentioned charter in accordance with its provisions.
Article III
This decree must be published in the Official Gazette, and comes into force on the date of its issuance.
Issued on: 9 Rabi Al-Akhir 1448
Corresponding to: 21 September 2026
Haitham bin Tarik
Sultan of Oman
Published in Official Gazette 1667 issued on 27 September 2026.
Foundation Charter for the Digital Cooperation Organization
The countries and entities signing this Charter; in their realization of the significant importance and the high impact of the digital development in various aspects of life;
And in their affirmation of their efforts to promote digital development and preserve the values of their societies; as well as their determination to achieving close integration and coordination among them which would contribute to raising their collective capabilities in digital development through the formation of legislations and laws that regulate related matters.
And in their desire to enhance the level of economic cooperation and inter-country trade and investment among them, and to protect their interests in the way that achieves the goals for which the Organization was founded;
And in their recognition of the importance of an entity that contributes to achieving the stated goals; they have agreed to establish the Organization of Digital Cooperation in accordance to the provisions stated in this Charter, as follows:
Article 1
Definitions
For the purposes of implementing this charter, the following words and expressions shall have the meanings before each of them, unless the context requires otherwise:
Charter:
The Charter for establishing the Digital Cooperation Organization.
Organization:
The Digital Cooperation Organization.
Members:
members of the Organization.
Council:
The Council of the Organization.
General Secretariat:
The General Secretariat of the Organization.
Secretary General:
The Secretary General of the Organization.
Article 2
The foundation of the Organization
1) An organization is established by the Charter under the name (the Organization of Digital Cooperation).
2) The membership of the Organization is composed of the countries and entities that ratified the Charter.
3) Membership of the Organization is available to countries and entities, provided unanimous decision by the Council is made to accept the request to join.
Article 3
The goals of the Organization
The Organization aims to achieve the following goals:
1) Raise the level of cooperation, understanding, and coordination of positions among the members in a way that serves its scientific, health, educational, commercial, social, economic, investment and security interests in regional and international forums in a manner that ensures the prevention of anything threatening or endangering the countries or affecting the safety of their citizens or residents.
2) Coordination among the members regarding the formation of legislation and laws, as well as developing policies that contribute to the progression of digital transformation and the expansion of the technology market and homogeneity of its regulations.
3) Enhance the cooperation and coordination among the members in the area of platforms that enable digital transformation.
4) Enhance cooperation with non-members from countries and entities, in a way that contributes to achieving the Organization’s goals.
Article 4
The headquarters
The permanent headquarters of the Organization is located in the city of Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and it may establish branch offices outside the country of headquarters.
Article 5
Privileges and Immunities
1) The Organization has the legal capacity, diplomatic privileges and immunities necessary to achieve its goals.
2) The country of headquarters and the Organization (represented by its Secretary General) shall conclude a headquarters agreement that regulates the status of the Organization and the privileges and immunity granted to it including: the Organization’s general secretary, its senior staff, and its contracted expert advisors provided that the draft agreement is presented to the Council for approval.
Article 6
The meetings of the Organization
The Organization holds its meetings in the country of the current rotational presidency, and if this is not possible, its meetings shall be held in the country of the headquarters, unless otherwise agreed.
Article 7
The Organization’s bodies
The Organization consists of the following bodies:
1) The Council, considered as its supreme authority, and its chairmanship shall be periodic among the representatives of the members. The Council determines the duration of each session.
2) The General Secretariat.
3) Any other body created in the future.
The Organization may establish, as needed, committees or task forces affiliated with its bodies issued by a decision from the Council.
Article 8
The Council
1) The Council consists of representatives of members from the ministers of Communications and Information Technology (or persons of equivalent status) and heads of entities.
2) The Council holds a regular annual meeting in the country of the current rotational presidency, unless agreed otherwise. And it has the authority to hold special meetings as needed subject to the approval of two-thirds of the members. The regular and special meeting is valid if attended by two-thirds of the members.
Article 9
The Jurisdiction of the Council
The Council shall undertake the following:
1) Approve strategies and policies related to the goals of the Organization, and oversee their implementation.
2) Approve the Organization’s programs and projects, and oversee their implementation.
3) Approve the accession of countries and entities to the Organization.
4) Review periodic reports submitted to the Council on the work of the General Secretariat.
5) Approve the Organization’s structure and its bylaws, financial, administrative and others.
6) Approve the draft budget and final account of the Organization.
7) Appoint the Secretary General of the Organization.
8) Appoint one or more Assistant Secretary General.
9) Appoint – upon recommendation from the Secretary General – an independent auditor to audit the accounts of the Organization. The term of appointment is for two years, renewable once.
10) Approve the establishment of branch offices of the Organization outside the headquarters country.
11) Review the proposals, requests and topics submitted to the Secretary General.
12) Approve the necessary controls for awarding prizes in the areas specified by the Council.
13) Approve the membership of governmental and international institutions, organizations, and bodies relevant to the objectives of the Organization as observers – including civil society institutions and the private sector. The Council of the Organization shall issue bylaws that determine the controls of the membership of these entities and their obligations.
Article 10
Voting in the Council
1) Each member shall have one vote in the Council, and if the member is in arrears of financial dues to the Organization equal to or greater than their contribution for a period of two years, then their right to vote shall be suspended until they fulfill all their financial obligations.
2) The decision of the Council on substantive issues, which is issued unanimously, is binding on its members. The decision in those matters, issued by a majority of votes of the members participating in the vote is not binding for those who did not support it.
3) Decisions of the Council in procedural matters shall be passed by at least a majority of votes of the members participating in the vote. In the case of tied vote, the chairperson shall have the casting vote.
Article 11
The General Secretariat
1) The term of service of the Secretary General (and his/her deputy, if any) shall be four years, and renewable only once.
2) The Secretary General is responsible for the work of the General Secretariat.
3) The Secretary General may have one (or more) assistant. The bylaws specify their title, jurisdiction, job duties and length of service.
4) The General Secretariat consists of employees and workers to fulfill the functions of the Organization, its meetings and work in light of the tasks entrusted to it under the Charter.
Article 12
The jurisdiction of the Secretary General
The Secretary General is responsible for managing the affairs of the General Secretariat and overseeing its work, and for that he/she can undertake the following:
1) Prepare the Organization’s structure proposals, its internal bylaws and the financial, administrative and other bylaws, for submission to the Council to consider approval.
2) Prepare and set up the Council meeting, including agendas, draft decisions, and follow-up on their implementation.
3) Take necessary measures to prepare studies related to the work of the Organization.
4) Oversee the preparation of reports on the work of the Council.
5) Oversee the preparation of the draft budget and the final account of the Organization, in preparation for submission to the Council to consider approval.
6) Recommend to the Council the appointment of an independent auditor to audit the Organization’s accounts.
7) Represent the Organization with regional and international organizations and bodies in accordance with the provisions of the Charter based on the duties assigned to him/her by the Council.
8) Propose the participation of non-members in the meeting of the Council without having the right to vote.
9) Any other tasks assigned to him/her by the Council.
Article 13
Duties of the General Secretariat
The General Secretariat undertakes the following tasks:
1) Preparation and set up for the Council meetings.
2) Follow up the implementation of decisions issued by the Council.
3) Prepare studies and propose projects that contribute to the progress of the digital transformation and the technology market in member countries, and accelerate the adoption and development of emerging technologies therein.
4) Prepare periodic reports on the work of the Organization and submit them to the Council for review.
5) Prepare the draft budget and the final account of the Organization and submit them to the Council for approval.
6) Circulate decisions and documents issued by the Organization and its subsidiary bodies.
7) Any other task assigned to it by the Council.
Article 14
Organization’s Budget
1) The Organization shall have an annual budget that is presented to the Council to consider its approval before the start of each fiscal year.
2) The Council unanimously determines the amounts of contributions that each member is obligated to pay. Such amounts may be subject to reconsideration when necessary.
Article 15
Entry into force, submission and registration of the Charter
1) This Charter shall enter into force after (90( days from the date of ratification of (at least) four members according to their respective procedures. With respect to the decisions taken by the Council after the Charter has entered into force and before ratification of those who signed it, such decisions do not apply to them until they give their consent, after ratification of the Charter.
2) Any relevant document concluded in the future shall enter into force – if it is signed by all members – after 30 days from the date of ratification of at least four members, taking into account the application of provision 1 of this article on the member who signed the document in respect to the decisionstaken based on that document.
3) The original copy of the Charter shall be deposited with the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as the depositary, and each member of the Organization shall receive a true copy of the Charter.
4) Instruments of ratification shall be deposited with the depositary.
5) A copy of the Charter shall be delivered to the General Secretariat after it begins its duties.
6) The general secretariat shall inform the members of the entry into force of this Charter or any of its amendments or any related documents concluded in the future.
Article 16
Amendment to the Charter
1) Any member can request amendment of the Charter.
2) Requests for amendment of the Charter shall be submitted to the Secretary General in preparation for submission to the Council for consideration.
3) The Council shall approve the amendments unanimously and the General Secretariat shall inform all members for ratification according to their respective procedures, and the amendments shall become in force for those who have ratified them. As for those who have not completed the necessary procedures regarding these amendments, the provisions mentioned in paragraph (1) of Article (15) of the Charter shall apply in respect to the decisions taken based on these amendments.
Article 17
Resolution of Disputes
1) The Organization shall form a committee called the Dispute Settlement Committee that reports to the Council.
2) The Council shall form the committee for each case, according to the nature of the dispute.
3) If a dispute arises over the interpretation or application of the Charter’s provisions, or any relevant conflict or dispute, which cannot be settled within the Council, then it shall be forwarded to the Dispute Settlement Committee.
4) The Committee shall submit its report, including its views, to the Council to take what it deems appropriate.
Article 18
Final Provisions
If any of the members request to withdraw from the Organization, they must submit a written communication addressed to the Secretary General a year before their withdrawal, and all members are informed of it. The member requesting the withdrawal must fulfill their financial obligations until the end of the fiscal year during which the withdrawal request was submitted.
Article 19
Copies
The charter is issued in two original copies in Arabic and English, and the texts in both copies are authentic.
The Charter was signed by the representatives of the members – from the Ministers of Communications and Information Technology (or persons of equivalent status) and the heads of entities – in the city of Riyadh on [●] / [●] / [●] ([●]) corresponding to [●] / [●] / [●] ([●]), and each member is to pursue completing the necessary legal procedures for the Charters to enter into force, as stipulated by provision (1) of Article (15) of the Charter.