RIYADH — The 52nd session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has approved the establishment of an OIC council of ministers of cybersecurity, following a proposal by Saudi Arabia. The Jeddah-based OIC groups 57 Arab and Islamic countries.The council aims to strengthen cybersecurity across OIC member states, protect their vital interests and national security, deepen cooperation, and safeguard their interests in international organizations dealing with cybersecurity.The decision establishes the council as a subsidiary body of the OIC and the organization's main reference for cybersecurity-related matters. Its general secretariat and executive office will be based in Riyadh, with each headed by a representative of the host country. The council will comprise the cybersecurity authorities of OIC member states.Governor of the National Cybersecurity Authority Majed Al-Mazyed said Saudi Arabia's proposal came amid growing cyber threats worldwide that pose risks to nations' vital interests, critical infrastructure, priority sectors, and government services and activities.He stressed the importance of strengthening cybersecurity across OIC member states as a key driver of economic growth, community well-being, and individual prosperity, as well as a fundamental pillar of international peace and security.Al-Mazyed also expressed appreciation for the Saudi leadership's strong support for the cybersecurity sector and thanked the members of the National Cybersecurity Authority's Board of Directors, chaired by Minister of State and Cabinet Member Musaed Al-Aiban, for their continued attention and oversight.He emphasized that Saudi Arabia draws on a long track record of leading international initiatives to strengthen cyberspace stability, hosting regional and international cybersecurity entities, and supporting strategic initiatives in the field.Riyadh's selection as the headquarters of the OIC cybersecurity ministerial council—the world's second-largest intergovernmental organization after the United Nations, with 57 member states—reflects the Islamic world's confidence in Saudi Arabia's ability to lead international initiatives and projects and advance their strategic objectives, Al-Mazyed said. The selection is expected to help strengthen cooperation among member states across various fields, including cybersecurity, he pointed out.Al-Mazyed also highlighted Saudi Arabia's role in establishing regional and international cybersecurity entities, including the Global Cybersecurity Forum (GCF) and the Arab Cybersecurity Ministers Council, which was established following a Saudi proposal, with Riyadh selected to host its secretariat and executive office.Other initiatives include the Centre for Cyber Economics (CCE), established through a partnership between the GCF and the World Economic Forum, and Riyadh's recent hosting of the first cybersecurity office affiliated with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).