As Qatar Hosts Arab-Islamic Summit, Here’s A Look At The 57 OIC Member States

Initially called the Organisation of Islamic Conference, the group changed its name to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in 2011. (AFP photo)

Leaders from Arab and Muslim countries gathered for an emergency summit in Doha on Monday, convened a week after Israel’s unprecedented airstrike on Hamas leaders in Qatar sparked widespread condemnation.

The summit, jointly organised by the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), aimed to increase pressure on Israel amid escalating calls to end the war and the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

The attack last week targeted Hamas officials in Doha, reportedly killing six people — five Hamas members and one Qatari national, a corporal in the Qatari Internal Security Force.

Among those attending the summit were Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

What Is The Organisation Of Islamic Cooperation?

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), as of September 2025, includes 57 member states spread across Asia, Africa, Europe, and South America. Though most members are Muslim-majority nations, a few have significant Muslim populations despite not being predominantly Muslim.

The OIC was founded in 1969 following an arson attack on the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, a site considered the third holiest in Islam. The attack, carried out by an extremist, prompted Muslim leaders to come together at the first Islamic Summit Conference in Rabat, Morocco, from 22 to 25 September 1969. Their goal was to protect Islamic holy sites and promote solidarity among Muslim nations on political, economic, and cultural fronts.

Initially called the Organisation of Islamic Conference, the group changed its name to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in 2011 during its 38th Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Astana.

The OIC represents over 2.1 billion people, about 26% of the world’s population, and accounts for roughly 8% of global GDP.

Who Are The 57 Member Countries?

Asia (27 countries): Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Maldives, Oman, Palastine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria*, Tajikistan, Turkey Arab Emirates (UAE), Uzbekistan, Jordan, Yemen.

Syria’s membership status has been subject to suspension by the OIC since 2012 but is still officially listed as a member.

Africa (27 countries): Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda.

South America (2 countries): Guyana, Surinam.

Europe (1 country): Albania.

(With inputs from agencies)