Tunis:Under Saudi leadership, the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) has completed its first major operational overhaul in 56 years. The General Conference operations development committee has completed a comprehensive modernization model aimed at institutional reform and aligning with international best practices during Saudi Arabia's 2024-2026 presidency.

According to Saudi Press Agency, the initiative was proposed and chaired by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, receiving approval from both the Executive Council and the General Conference. The committee, led by Saudi representative Hani Al-Moqbel and including 12 Arab member states, created an integrated governance and legislative framework to streamline decision-making and enhance member-state participation.

For the first time, four core mechanisms were established the General Conference Bureau, the Preparatory Committee, the Committee on Strategies and Action Plans, and the Legal Affairs Committee. The initiative also included significant amendments to the General Conference's rules of procedure and proposed presenting the project to the Arab League's Economic and Social Council as a benchmark for regional organizations.

The committee's work spanned 18 months and involved 33 meetings, analyzing 60 challenges in legal, technological, coordination, and participatory areas, and proposing 90 targeted solutions. Key transformations include governance reform, digital modernization, operational improvements, structural updates, and institutional reform.

Concluding in May 2026, the committee drafted 16 recommendations for submission in November. These include amending the rules of procedure for the 28th session, institutionalizing a four-year review of the rules, re-examining ALECSO’s constitution, and implementing digital operations frameworks. The project aims to serve as a guiding model for specialized Arab institutions.