In 1990 during the EANS-PANS Course in Rabat, Prof's. Abdelsalm El Khamlichi and Sayed El Gindi discussed the possibility of forming a Pan Arab organisation for Neurosurgery. This proposal was presented to 23 Arab neurosurgeons at the 10th International Congress of the WFNS in Acapulco. The meeting was presided by Prof. Fuad Haddad, as the most senior member present and attendees were, as follows:

- Algeria: Benaissa Abdennabi, Khayr-ed-Dine Boussaf
- Canada: Izzeddine Medhkour
- Egypt: Gamal Azab, Sayed El-Gindi, Hasan Gawish
- Germany: Bashar Khalaf
- Jordan: Nasri Khoury, Adel Shuraydi, Ahmad Tamimi, Yusuf Urayqat
- Kuwait: Yusuf Al-Wadi
- Lebanon: Emile Abou Habib, Saad Farah, Fuad Haddad, Gedeon Mohasseb
- Morocco: Abdelslam El Khamlichi
- Saudi Arabia: Ahmad Ammar, Imad Kanaan, Hani Al Meniawi, Bassem Sheikh
- Syria: Usama Kouli
- USA: Issam Awad

Those present agreed on the following:

1. Foundation of a Pan Arab Association (Society or Federation) of Neurological Surgeons
2. Formation of a Founding Committee presided over by Prof. Abdelslam El Khamlichi and consisting of the following members: Jamal-ed-Dine, Fuad Haddad and Sayed El-Gindi
3. Prepare a draft constitution.

A Constitution drawn up by Dr. Khalaf Al Moutaery was approved and ratified during the first congress of the Society on 7 December, 1996 in Riyadh.

The first Executive Committee was elected and formed of the following members:

- President: Khalaf Al Moutaery, Saudi Arabia
- President Elect: Sherif Ezzat, Egypt
- Secretary: Abdelslam El Khamlichi, Morocco
- Historian: Fuad S Haddad, Lebanon
- President, Training Committee: Antoine Nachanakian, Lebanon
- Treasurer: Ishaq Maraqa, Jordan

To further the aims of our Society, the Pan Arab Journal of Neurosurgery published its first edition in October 1997 and was assigned an International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) from the International Standards Office.

The second meeting of our Society was held in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt on the 28-31 October 1998.

At a meeting of the Executive Committee, held in Tunis in October 1999, the following decisions were agreed upon:

1. The Society's Headquarters would continue to be based in Riyadh for a further five (5) years.
2. Dr. Mohamed Johaji was nominated as Executive Secretary.
3. Ahmed Ammar was nominated as Assistant to the President for International Communications.
4. Nomination of Khalaf Al Moutaery for the post of Vice-President to the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies.

Our third meeting was held in Beirut on the 4-7 October 2000 under the Chairmanship of our then new President, Prof. Antoine Nachanakian. It was also agreed that Prof. Abdelslam El Khamlichi would be President-Elect. Other members are listed on our 'Executive Committee' page.

Fuad S Haddad
Historian