As part of the ongoing preparations for the First International Conference on Digital Transformation, Innovation, and Sustainable Development (ICDTISD 2026), jointly organized by the University of Aden and the Arab Academy for Management, Banking and Financial Sciences (AAMBFS) with technical sponsorship from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the world's leading organization for sponsoring and supporting prestigious international conferences, an expanded meeting was held on Monday, September 1, 2025.

The meeting brought together Prof. Dr. Al-Khader Nasser Lasour, President of the University of Aden, and Prof. Dr. Murad Mohammed Al-Nashmi, Director of the Yemen Branch of the Arab Academy, in the presence of the University's vice presidents and several college deans.

During the meeting, both parties reviewed the conference's preliminary organizational, logistical, and scientific arrangements. The conference is scheduled to take place in Aden from April 6 to 8, 2026, in a hybrid format combining in-person and virtual participation, with researchers and academics from Yemen and around the world expected to participate.

As part of the meeting, Prof. Dr. Abdulqader Mohammed Al-Abbadi, Dean of Graduate Studies and Scientific Research at the Arab Academy, presented a comprehensive overview of the conference plan and its scientific themes, which include:

• Artificial Intelligence and Data Science

• Digital Transformation in Economics and Finance

• Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Development in Fragile Environments

• Telecommunications, the Internet of Things (IoT), and Cybersecurity

• Information Systems and Technologies for the Digital Economy, Banking, Healthcare, and Education, in addition to several other specialized research tracks.

He also reviewed the conference timeline, including submission deadlines, the peer-review process, publication opportunities through IEEE Xplore and Scopus, as well as media, marketing, and outreach plans targeting universities and research institutions across the region and internationally.

During the meeting, the President of the University of Aden praised the strategic partnership with the Arab Academy, emphasizing that the conference represents an important opportunity to strengthen Yemen's academic presence on the international stage and to expand scientific and research collaboration with leading universities and research centers worldwide.

Prof. Dr. Murad Mohammed Al-Nashmi also expressed his appreciation for the partnership with the University of Aden, reaffirming the Academy's commitment to the successful delivery of the conference by leveraging its academic, administrative, and technical expertise and providing the necessary scientific and organizational support.

The conference represents a strategic milestone as the first event of its kind in Aden to receive technical sponsorship from IEEE. This partnership significantly enhances the conference's scientific quality and increases opportunities for accepted papers to be published through internationally recognized platforms, including IEEE Xplore and Scopus. It also contributes to strengthening the capabilities of researchers and students while reinforcing the role of Yemeni universities in advancing scientific research, innovation, and sustainable development.