Third Regional Arab Forum on Enhancing Transparency and Combatting Corruption

The Third Arab Forum on Enhancing Transparency and Combating Corruption in the Digital Age, held in Cairo from 22 to 23 October 2025 under the theme “The Role of Digital Transformation in Promoting Transparency and Integrity in Public Policies,” concluded with the participation of over 100 representatives from 14 Arab countries and Italy. Participants reaffirmed that corruption remains a major obstacle to sustainable development in the Arab world and that digital technologies offer innovative means to combat it. They emphasized the need for strong legislative and ethical frameworks to balance transparency with data protection, and for strengthened regional and international cooperation. The Forum’s key recommendations included adopting blockchain and AI tools for transparency in public procurement, enacting whistleblower protection laws, promoting participatory digital budgeting, establishing regional cooperation under the UN Convention Against Corruption, launching capacity-building programs in digital integrity, fostering public–private partnerships, and creating regional innovation funds. A major outcome was the endorsement of the “Arab Digital Observatory for Transparency and Integrity” initiative as a unified regional platform for open data, annual transparency indicators, secure reporting tools, and youth-led innovation. Participants called on governments, parliaments, oversight bodies, civil society, and the private sector to translate these recommendations into actionable programs supporting sustainable development and good governance in the Arab region.