Page 8 - RIPE NCC PR REPORT - NOVEMBER 2023

Press Release

TDRA and RIPE NCC Host the Seventh Government Roundtable

for the Middle East Region

Mobilising collaborative efforts to enhance peering and connectivity among Arab countries

24 November - The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority
(TDRA) of the United Arab Emirates, in collaboration with the RIPE Network Coordination
Centre (RIPE NCC), the regional Internet registry for Europe, the Middle East and parts of
Central Asia, convened the Seventh Government Roundtable for the Middle East Region
recently at the Ritz-Carlton in Dubai.

High-level government delegations, including Arab ICT ministers and heads of regulatory
authorities, gathered in Dubai to discuss the theme of "Cooperation for Digital Infrastructures
and Sustainable Internet Policies in the Arab Region", focusing on the critical challenges of
building a sustainable and secure Internet in the region. The roundtable aimed to continue the
progress made during the previous meetings by fostering cooperation in developing digital
infrastructure and discussing sustainable Internet policies.

Opening the roundtable with welcome speeches were prominent figures, including the minister
of MoICT in Palestine and the heads of regulators in the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Kuwait,
Oman, Iraq, Egypt, and Bahrain, in addition to the League of Arab States and the GCC Telecom
bureau. Their collective presence underscored the importance of collaboration among
governments and the RIPE NCC in advancing digital infrastructures and Internet policies.

In his opening keynote address, H.E Eng. Mohammad Al Zarooni, Acting Director General of
the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) in the United
Arab Emirates, pointed out how critical the present moment is in shaping the digital future. He
noted that as technology rapidly advances, it is incumbent on governments to build the
necessary infrastructure and environment to support it. He highlighted the importance of
working together in these efforts: “Collaboration is a cornerstone of our approach. Working
with all stakeholders, including the technical community and organisations such as the RIPE
NCC, is necessary to prevent Internet fragmentation. This roundtable can be a milestone
towards a secure and connected future for all citizens.”

In his speech, Dr. Ishaq Sider, the Minister of Telecommunications and Information
Technology in Palestine, stressed the extensive damage inflicted upon the telecommunications
and Internet infrastructure in the Gaza Strip. He highlighted his ministry’s achievements in
developing the Palestinian ICT sector and shared the vision and strategy of the Palestinian