Riyadh Charter Establishes AI Index To Evaluate Islamic World’s AI Readiness And Progress

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) introduced the AI Index for the Islamic World in Baku, Azerbaijan. This initiative is a significant part of the Riyadh Charter on Artificial Intelligence for the Islamic World. Announced at the Global AI Summit 2024 in Riyadh, the charter aims to create a framework for AI development that aligns with Islamic values.

The charter encourages collaboration among governments, policymakers, research centers, and international organizations within the Islamic world. It promotes sharing ideas and expertise on AI's future applications while ensuring these technologies align with global human values. The focus is on advancing AI ethics and fostering cooperation.

During the launch event in Baku, Dr. Majid Al-Shehri from the Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA) highlighted that the Riyadh Charter sets foundational principles. He explained that these principles will be transformed into measurable indicators and standards through the new index. This will help assess countries' readiness and progress in adopting AI.

Dr. Al-Shehri also mentioned Saudi Arabia's leadership role in international AI efforts through the International Center for Artificial Intelligence Research and Ethics (ICAIRE). This center serves as a global platform for ethical discussions and research in AI, focusing on developing human capabilities.

The Kingdom has launched its National AI Index (NAII) to evaluate AI application maturity across government sectors. This index examines governance, digital infrastructure, human capital, data quality, applications, and their impact. These dimensions are crucial for understanding how well AI is integrated into governmental operations.

In March 2025, during ICESCO's 45th Executive Council session, 53 Islamic countries unanimously approved the Riyadh Charter on Artificial Intelligence for the Islamic World. They recognized it as a pivotal step toward establishing a shared ethical and strategic framework for AI within the Islamic community.

This collective agreement underscores a commitment to ethical AI development that respects both Islamic values and global human principles. The collaborative effort aims to ensure that technological advancements benefit all members of society while maintaining cultural integrity.

With inputs from SPA