DCO Concludes LEAP 2026 with Strategic AI Partnerships, Membership Expansion, and Digital Prosperity Plan

The Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) concluded its participation at the "LEAP 2026" conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, marking significant milestones in digital cooperation, artificial intelligence, and innovation. A key highlight was the State of Palestine signing the DCO Charter to become a formal member, coinciding with the unveiling of the Digital Prosperity Plan 2026–2028. The comprehensive roadmap aims to bolster digital infrastructure, enhance AI readiness, advance digital government and skills, and support startups and small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs).

Membership Expansion to Represent Nearly 1 Billion People

Palestine’s accession follows the DCO Council's recent approval to nominate eight new nations for membership. Once all accession procedures are finalized, the DCO will expand from 16 to 24 member states, collectively representing approximately 980 million people and forging a unified global voice of nearly one billion citizens in the digital economy.

Simultaneously, Tajikistan is advancing its procedures to join the organization as an associate member. This move aims to broaden digital cooperation, leverage public-private partnerships, and promote digital inclusion in alignment with Tajikistan’s National Development Strategy for 2030.

Advancing AI, Open Innovation, and Digital Trust

During the conference, DCO Secretary-General Deemah AlYahya moderated a ministerial dialogue titled "Governing Growth: Building Human-Centric Digital Economies in an AI-Driven Era." The session explored responsible innovation, the skills required to navigate AI-driven transformations, and the critical role of strategic investments in building sustainable digital economies.

In the AI domain, the DCO partnered with Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) and AMD to launch an Open AI and Open Innovation ecosystem. The organization also hosted a "DevDay" workshop to empower developers, engineers, and startups through open-source tools and technical training.

Addressing the challenges of the digital age, the DCO hosted a multilateral roundtable on online content integrity. Media representatives and tech platforms discussed the growing threats of misinformation and AI-generated content, exploring actionable strategies to reinforce digital trust.

Global Partnerships and Data Governance

The DCO actively engaged in cross-border data governance discussions alongside Saudi Arabia’s Digital Government Authority and ITL Estonia, focusing on data trust and regulatory alignment. The organization also participated with Estonian digital leaders in a session titled "Designed for Business: Estonia's Digital Advantage," analyzing frameworks for building resilient, future-ready digital economies.

Furthering its global outreach, the DCO and the World Bank co-hosted a dialogue on transitioning "From Digital Ambition to Impact," covering policy, infrastructure, funding, and capacity building. Additionally, a high-level roundtable at Elm Company examined the role of financing digital innovation in driving economic growth and job creation.

Empowering Startups via the STRIDE Program

The organization amplified startup participation at LEAP 2026 through its "STRIDE" program, sponsoring 30 startups from 11 member states. The initiative successfully connected founders with international investors and potential markets through targeted networking sessions and specialized meetings with key ecosystem partners, including Elm, ITL Estonia, and Tools & Solutions, thereby expanding avenues for cross-border investment and market access.