Fuad Hussein: Arab Summit set for May 17 in Baghdad

BAGHDAD — Iraq will host the Arab Summit in Baghdad on May 17, 2025, Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein announced Thursday during a preparatory meeting.

The meeting, attended by senior officials, reviewed logistical, technical, and organizational arrangements, including security coordination and media preparations.

“He also stressed the need for coordination among relevant entities to ensure the summit is organized at the highest levels of professionalism and efficiency,” Hussein was quoted to say in a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The 34th regular Arab League summit is set to be hosted in Baghdad following a decision by the Arab League. The move came in response to a request from Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani during the 32nd Arab League summit in Riyadh in May 2023, with the decision announced as the 33rd summit concluded in Bahrain in May 2024.

The Arab League member states include Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.

Statement from Iraq’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Fuad Hussein chaired the twelfth preparatory meeting for the Arab Summit in Baghdad on Thursday, March 6, 2025.

The meeting was attended by Cabinet Secretary-General Dr. Hamid Al-Ghazi, Baghdad Mayor Ammar Musa Kazem, Deputy Foreign Minister Ahmed Nayef Rashid Al-Dulaimi, and several officials from relevant ministries and sectors.

During the meeting, Hussein announced that, following discussions in Cairo, May 17, 2025, has been set as the official date for the Arab Summit in Baghdad. The attendees reviewed the latest preparations, discussed reports from specialized committees, and examined logistical, technical, and organizational arrangements. The meeting also covered detailed plans to ensure the event’s success, including protocol measures, security coordination, and media arrangements.

Hussein emphasized the importance of the summit hosted by Baghdad, stating that Iraq is working to create all necessary conditions for its success, reflecting a positive image of the country and strengthening joint Arab cooperation. He also stressed the need for coordination among relevant entities to ensure the summit is organized at the highest levels of professionalism and efficiency.

For his part, the cabinet secretary general affirmed that efforts are ongoing to overcome any obstacles in the preparations, noting that the specialized committees are working around the clock to achieve the summit’s objectives.