Digital Cooperation Organisation expands membership to include Kenya and Palestine

The Digital Cooperation Organisation (DCO) is expanding its membership from 16 to 24 countries. Eight new candidate countries have been approved to join, including Kenya, Albania, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, the State of Palestine, Syria, and Zambia. Tajikistan is also set to join as an Associate Member.

On the sidelines of LEAP 2026 in Riyadh, the State of Palestine officially signed the DCO Charter. Palestinian Minister of Telecommunications and Digital Economy, Dr. Abdel-Razzak Natsheh, stated that membership offers an opportunity to deepen international cooperation and accelerate digital transformation through the Digital Prosperity Plan.

DCO Secretary-General Deemah AlYahya noted that the expansion represents approximately 980 million people, or about 12 percent of the global population. She emphasized that joining the organization allows countries to collectively shape emerging rules regarding artificial intelligence, data, and cross-border trade, rather than simply inheriting rules set by others.