Doha, 21 Sept 2026

The sixth session of the Conference of the States Parties to the Arab Anti-Corruption Convention opened in Doha on Monday, bringing together representatives and anti-corruption officials from Arab countries to strengthen regional cooperation, exchange expertise and discuss emerging challenges in combating corruption.

The three-day conference is being chaired by President of the Administrative Control and Transparency Authority (ACTA), HE Hamad bin Nasser Al Misnad.

In his opening remarks, Saeed Shehadeh, Advisor to the Head of the Palestinian Anti-Corruption Commission and Chair of the conference’s fifth session, thanked Qatar for its hospitality and support. He particularly praised Qatar for providing technical and logistical assistance and hosting activities during Palestine’s presidency of the previous session.

Shehadeh said Palestine had fulfilled its responsibilities despite serious challenges, including restrictions imposed on its Anti-Corruption Commission and the continuing repercussions of the war. He also thanked Arab countries that supported Palestine by hosting meetings and activities when circumstances prevented them from being held in Palestine.

He expressed hope that the sixth session would further strengthen joint Arab efforts and cooperation in preventing and combating corruption.

Dr Maha Bakheet, Acting Head of the Legal Affairs Sector and Director of the Legal Affairs Department at the General Secretariat, and Head of the Conference Secretariat, said the sixth session was convened in accordance with Resolution No. 7 adopted during the fifth session, held in Cairo from May 5 to 7, 2024.

She explained that the resolution established a mechanism for submitting draft resolutions to the Conference of States Parties. Several consultations were subsequently held through video conferences involving the Palestinian Anti-Corruption Commission, which chaired the fifth session, and ACTA, which is chairing the current session.

Bakheet said the draft resolutions before the conference cover important areas aimed at improving implementation of the Arab Anti-Corruption Convention. She stressed that the efforts of participating states would help reinforce collective Arab action, address regional challenges and strengthen legal and legislative frameworks.

The conference serves as an institutional Arab platform for monitoring implementation of the Convention, promoting coordination among member states and facilitating the exchange of expertise and successful practices.

Among the key issues being discussed are strengthening mechanisms to review implementation of the Convention, improving preventive measures, developing financial investigation capabilities, speeding up mutual legal assistance and increasing transparency concerning beneficial ownership and ultimate beneficiaries.

On the sidelines of the opening day at the Ritz-Carlton Doha, delegates also highlighted the growing importance of regional and international cooperation in tackling corruption, financial crime and organised criminal activity.

Imed Hazgui, President of Tunisia’s High Committee of Financial and Administrative Control, said the conference reflected Arab countries’ commitment to legal frameworks and international conventions designed to promote transparency, economic development and stronger financial systems. He noted that corruption could have consequences extending beyond financial losses, affecting areas such as education, healthcare and public services.

Nacereddine Marouk of Algeria pointed to the increasingly complex nature of financial and economic crimes. He said investigations involving corruption, illicit financial flows and the recovery of stolen assets often cross national borders and require specialised expertise and close coordination among authorities.

Delegates also discussed the impact of rapid technological development and artificial intelligence. While these technologies offer new opportunities, they can also create new avenues for organised criminal networks. Participants therefore stressed the need for anti-corruption bodies to continuously strengthen their skills, investigative tools and technical capabilities.

Dr Baker Albqour, Director of the Investigation Directorate in Jordan, highlighted challenges surrounding international cooperation and the recovery of assets linked to corruption. He said stronger practical implementation of regional and international agreements, together with effective judicial cooperation, was essential.

He added that the Doha conference provides an opportunity for participating countries and specialised institutions to review their experiences, exchange findings and share investigative tools.

The first session of the Conference of States Parties was held in Cairo in 2015. By May 2024, 15 Arab states had ratified the Arab Anti-Corruption Convention. The current session seeks to build on those efforts by strengthening cooperation, improving preventive mechanisms and developing more effective responses to increasingly complex forms of corruption and financial crime.