The Joint Preparatory Committee for the First International Conference on Digital Transformation, Innovation, and Sustainable Development (2026 DTISD) held its fourth meeting at the University of Aden Presidency Headquarters. The meeting was chaired by Prof. Dr. Al-Khader Nasser Lasour, President of the University of Aden and Chair of the Committee, and attended by Prof. Dr. Murad Mohammed Al-Nashmi, Director of the Yemen Branch of the Arab Academy for Management, Banking and Financial Sciences (AAMBFS) and Deputy Chair of the Committee, along with committee members from both institutions.

The meeting was held as part of the ongoing academic and scientific partnership between the University of Aden and the Academy, reflecting their continued coordination to ensure the successful organization of the conference, which represents a significant scientific platform for advancing research, innovation, and digital transformation.

At the opening of the meeting, Prof. Dr. Al-Khader Nasser Lasour emphasized that the international conference, held under the patronage of His Excellency Prime Minister Dr. Shaea Mohsen Al-Zandani, represents a strategic milestone in advancing scientific research and reflects a commitment to strengthening regional and international academic partnerships. He noted that the University of Aden aims to foster a culture of digital transformation within higher education institutions while aligning scientific research with national development priorities. He welcomed the distinguished partnership with the Arab Academy and reaffirmed the commitment of both institutions to continued collaboration. He also stressed the importance of producing practical, actionable recommendations that support reform and modernization efforts, while emphasizing adherence to the approved timeline and accelerating preparations during the coming phase.

For his part, Prof. Dr. Murad Mohammed Al-Nashmi affirmed that the partnership with the University of Aden serves as a successful model of institutional collaboration in organizing international scientific events. He stated that the Academy would dedicate all its academic, administrative, and technical resources to ensure the conference is delivered according to the highest international standards and to attract distinguished researchers and experts in the fields of digital transformation and innovation. He also highlighted the importance of maintaining rigorous scientific standards throughout the peer-review process to enhance the conference's academic reputation and ensure high-quality research outcomes that contribute to sustainable development. He praised the efforts of the organizing, scientific, and technical committees for their dedication to preparing a world-class scientific event that addresses contemporary challenges and explores the future of knowledge.

The committee reviewed the agenda, focusing on organizational and technical readiness, procedures for receiving and reviewing research papers, logistical and media arrangements, and plans for coordinating with researchers and keynote speakers from Yemen and abroad.

Committee members also received a comprehensive report from the Scientific Committee, presented by Prof. Dr. Abdulqader Mohammed Al-Abbadi, Chair of the Scientific Committee. The report reviewed the number of submitted research papers, the peer-review process, and the evaluation criteria adopted in accordance with international academic standards, reaffirming the committee's commitment to ensuring the highest quality of the conference's scientific outputs and enhancing its competitiveness.

During the meeting, the committee also praised the technical sponsorship provided by IEEE, recognizing it as a significant addition to the conference through the adoption of internationally recognized standards for peer review and publication. This collaboration also enhances opportunities for accepted papers to be indexed in prestigious scientific databases, including Scopus and IEEE Xplore, thereby increasing the conference's academic value and international visibility.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the Joint Preparatory Committee reaffirmed its commitment to continuing the close collaboration between the University of Aden and the Arab Academy, reflecting the strength of their institutional partnership and their shared goal of delivering a distinguished international conference that advances digital transformation, innovation, and sustainable development.