This report details the programme, findings and recommendations from a regional workshop held in Cairo, Egypt in January 2012 as part of the Global Review on Phytosanitary Surveillance in the Context of the International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) 6: Guidelines for Surveillance. The workshop aimed at promoting discussion and information exchange between countries in the Near East region on plant protection issues, as well as enhancing countries’ abilities to prioritize and identify challenges and support needed to face these challenges.