The preparatory meetings for the 34th Ordinary Arab Summit and 5th Arab Development Summit commenced today in Baghdad with the senior officials' meeting of the Arab Economic and Social Council. This marks the first in a series of preparatory gatherings ahead of the dual summits scheduled to take place in the Iraqi capital this coming Saturday.

Key Proceedings:

• The day began with the preparatory committee meeting for the Development Summit, chaired by Lebanon with participation from the summit troika (Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Iraq) and the Economic-Social Council troika (UAE, Bahrain, Tunisia), alongside Egypt, Morocco, and the Arab League Secretariat.

• Iraq formally assumed the presidency from Lebanon during the Economic-Social Council's senior officials' meeting, attended by Arab delegations including Kuwait (represented by Acting Assistant Undersecretary for Economic Affairs Talal Al-Namsh).

Agenda Highlights:
The 27-item agenda includes:

1. Proposed lifting of electricity sector sanctions on Syria

2. Projects supporting displaced Palestinian families

3. Reconstruction initiatives in Sudan

4. Infrastructure development support for Yemen

5. The Arab League Secretary-General's initiative: "Arab Artificial Intelligence Initiative: Toward Technological Leadership and Sustainable Development"

6. Mauritania's President's proposal on the Blue Economy as a solution to food and energy challenges

Strategic Discussions:

• Review of the Secretary-General's report on joint Arab economic, social, and developmental work

• Implementation assessment of resolutions from the 4th Arab Development Summit (Beirut 2019)

• The *Arab Food Security Strategy 2025-2035*

• Progress on the Greater Arab Free Trade Area and requirements for establishing an Arab Customs Union

Next Steps:
Today's outcomes will be presented to tomorrow's (Tuesday) preparatory meeting of Arab trade and economy ministers, whose approved decisions will subsequently be elevated to Arab leaders during the summit.

The preparatory process continues Wednesday with permanent representatives' meetings, followed by Thursday's Arab foreign ministers' gathering ahead of Saturday's summit day.