In a summit in Kuwait 1966 the Arab League Council decided to establish an organization to improve and develop the Industry in general. The decision was approved by the Arab Economic Council in 1968. The headquarters was decided to be established in Cairo. In 1975, the Arab Ministries of Industries decided to free the organization from Arab League influence and was claimed as an independent organization. The organization's headquarters was moved from Cairo to Tunis temporarily from 1979 to 1980