• The following terms and phrases shall have the meanings set forth opposite each of them:

  • 1- Center: The International Center for Artificial Intelligence Research and Ethics.
  • 2- UNESCO: The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
  • 3- Council: The Board of Directors of the Center.
  • 4- General Secretariat: The General Secretariat of the Center.
  • 5- Law: The Basic Law of the Center.
  • 6- President: The President of the Council.
  • 7- Director: The Director General of the Center.

The center enjoys legal personality, financial and administrative independence, and has the status of an international center operating under the auspices of UNESCO. In performing its tasks, it is subject to the provisions contained in the law and the relevant regulations.

1- The main headquarters of the center shall be located in the city of Riyadh, and it may establish branches and offices within the Kingdom and abroad as needed.

2- The scope of the center's activities includes all member states of UNESCO.

• The center works on implementing cooperation and support initiatives in the fields of artificial intelligence research and ethics at both regional and international levels in four main areas, which are:

  • 1- Providing support in research and development in the field of artificial intelligence.
  • 2- Enhancing awareness and communication regarding artificial intelligence research and ethics.
  • 3- Providing recommendations related to artificial intelligence research and ethics.
  • 4- Promoting and supporting capacity building in the field of artificial intelligence research and ethics.

• The center shall exercise all the powers and authorities necessary to achieve its objectives, and in particular, it shall have the following:

  • 1- Supporting scientific research in the field of artificial intelligence.
  • 2- Developing capabilities and designing training programs in the field of artificial intelligence.
  • 3- Exchanging knowledge and expertise in the field of artificial intelligence ethics and policies at both regional and international levels.
  • 4- Building and developing international platforms for exchanging expertise and raising awareness in the field of artificial intelligence.
  • 5- Providing technical consulting services in the field of artificial intelligence.
  • 6- Producing research, technical, and media reports related to its nature and activities.
  • 7- Participating in international organizations and coordinating with other relevant entities in the field of artificial intelligence.
  • 8- Concluding agreements and contracts with organizations and internal and external entities, in accordance with regulatory procedures.
  • 9- Owning movable and immovable funds and disposing of them, in accordance with the relevant regulatory provisions.
  • 10- Approving the acceptance of donations, grants, wills, gifts, and endowments, according to regulatory procedures.
  • 11- Determining the financial consideration for the services it provides.

• The center primarily consists of:

  • 1- The Council.
  • 2- The General Secretariat.

• 1- The Center shall have a Board of Directors chaired by the President of the Saudi Data and AI Authority and composed of the following members:

  • A- A representative of the Director-General of UNESCO.
  • B- A maximum of seven (7) members representing the member states of UNESCO, provided that one of the member states represented is a state with which UNESCO has an agreement regarding an institute or center of category two under its auspices.
  • C- A maximum of five (5) members representing national governmental or private bodies and institutions.
  • D- Two representatives of international governmental and private bodies and institutions.

• 2- The Director shall be the Secretary of the Board and shall have no voting rights.

• 3- In determining the bodies and institutions represented by the Board members, those related to the activities of the Center shall be taken into consideration.

• 4- Membership in the Board is voluntary, and Board members shall not receive any remuneration. The term of membership shall be four (4) years.

• 5- A decision shall be issued by the Council of Ministers – based on a nomination by the President – specifying the entities and appointing the members referred to in subparagraph (C) of paragraph (1) of this article.

• 6- A decision shall be issued by the President regarding the following:

  • A- Specifying the countries referred to in subparagraph (B) and the international governmental and private bodies and institutions referred to in subparagraph (D) of paragraph (1) of this article.
  • B- Naming the members referred to in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (D) of paragraph (1) of this article.

• 1- The Council shall have the competencies and powers to supervise the Center, in a manner that achieves the objectives for which it was established and as defined in the Law. In particular, the Council shall have the following powers:

  • A- Approving the Center’s programs for the medium and long terms.
  • B- Approving the Center’s annual work plan.
  • C- Adopting the mechanism for nominating Council members.
  • D- Reviewing the annual reports submitted by the Director, including self-assessment reports every two years regarding the Center’s contribution to achieving the objectives of the UNESCO program.
  • E- Reviewing the periodic independent audit reports of the Center’s financial statements, and monitoring the provision of the necessary accounting books for preparing the financial statements.
  • F- Approving the rules and regulations, including the financial and administrative regulations of the Center, in accordance with the laws of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
  • G- Deciding on the participation of governmental, regional, and international organizations and bodies in the Center’s activities.
  • H- Approving the appointment of an external auditor for the Center.

• 2- The Council may establish permanent or temporary committees or working groups from among its members or others to undertake specific tasks. The Council shall issue a decision forming these committees, their members, and defining their powers.

• 1- The Council shall meet at least once every year, based on an invitation from the President, and the invitation to the meeting shall be sent at least fifteen (15) days prior to the specified date of the meeting. The agenda of the topics to be discussed at the meeting shall be attached to the invitation.
• 2- Council meetings shall be held in the presence of at least half of the members, including the President or his deputy from among the members, at the headquarters of the Center or any place determined by the President.
• 3- The Center shall bear the travel and accommodation expenses of a Council member or any other person whose attendance at the Council meetings is required, after the President's approval.
• 4- Decisions shall be issued by the majority of the votes of those present. In the event of a tie, the side that the President of the meeting voted for shall prevail.
• 5- The Council’s deliberations and decisions shall be recorded in minutes signed by the President of the meeting and the members present.
• 6- The President shall sign the decisions issued by the Council.
• 7- The President or the Council Secretary may, when necessary and in urgent cases as determined by the President, send the proposed procedure to each member entitled to vote and request their vote on it, specifying an appropriate voting period not exceeding thirty (30) days from the date of sending the voting request. The Council Secretary shall prepare minutes of the voting results and provide the Council members with a copy at the first subsequent meeting. If responses are not received from the majority of the members entitled to vote, the proposal shall be considered rejected.