The 33rd Arab League Summit is set to take place on Thursday, 16 May for the first time in the Kingdom of Bahrain. As schools and universities move to remote learning, road closures in effect, and employees choosing to work from home, we’re sure you must be asking – what’s this all about? So here’s everything you need to know about the Summit, the League of Arab Nations, and its importance to Bahrain.
Also Read: Plan Your Commute in Bahrain During the Arab League Summit
At present, the Arab League or League of Arab States is made up of 22 countries in the Middle East. However, the establishment of such a league took place eight decades ago. In March 1945, leaders of Syria, Jordan (then TransJordan), Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, and Yemen signed a pact to create a league of independent Arab states to “draw closer the relations between member States and co-ordinate their political activities with the aim of realizing a close collaboration between them, to safeguard their independence and sovereignty, and to consider in a general way the affairs and interests of the Arab countries.”
Going deeper, the Arab League meets to discuss:
Economic and financial matters, including trade, customs, currency, agriculture and industry; Communications, including railways, roads, aviation, navigation, and posts and telegraphs; Cultural matters; Matters connected with nationality, passports, visas, execution of judgments and extradition; Social welfare matters; Health matters.
In 1945, while signing the pact, the Arab League comprised of six states. Today, the league is made up of 22 Arab nations including 8 African countries. Each member country gets a vote on the council. Members of the league are:
Algeria
Bahrain
Comoros
Djibouti
Egypt
Iraq
Jordan
Kuwait
Lebanon
Libya
Mauritania
Morocco
Oman
Palestine
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Somalia
Sudan
Syria
Tunisia
United Arab Emirates
Yemen
The first summit was hosted in 1964 in Cairo. For the first time this year, Bahrain is hosting the 33rd Summit, with delegations from all the member countries arriving in the Kingdom.
Also Read: Bahrain Gears Up To Host the 33rd Arab League Summit
