The Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the Qatari Coordinating Committee for the celebration of Doha as the Capital of Islamic Culture for 2021 held a coordination meeting to arrange for the official launch and its general program and to discuss other relevant details.

During the videoconference, the Qatari Coordinating Committee presented on Monday, January 25, 2021, the draft program of the celebration and the main suggested highlights and cooperating parties. The Committee stressed the need for coordination with the relevant ministries, sectors, national bodies, and civil society given their key role in ensuring the success of the celebration.

The Qatari delegation proposed the organization of the inauguration ceremony on March 8, 2021, and pledged to provide ICESCO with the details of the major programs and highlights of the celebration, including international and regional exhibitions, international art festivals and symposia, and cultural weeks.

ICESCO pledged to inform the Qatar party of the major activities and projects planned as part of the celebration of Doha as the Arab Region Capital of Islamic Culture for 2021. The measure is part of ICESCO’s new vision, which is based on promoting culture in the Islamic world through many initiatives, projects, and programs. The most notable initiatives are “ICESCO Digital Home,” “ICESCO International Art Center,” “Islamic World Heritage Center,” “ICESCO International Chairs Network” as well as the civilizational project “ICESCO Roads for the Future.”

At the close of the meeting, the two parties agreed to hold weekly coordination meetings to review the progress of preparations and cooperate in many cultural programs and projects.

This meeting brought together Dr. Mohamed Zine El Abidine, Director of Culture and Communication Sector at ICESCO; Ambassador Khalid Fathalrahman, Supervisor of Partnership and International Cooperation Sector at ICESCO; Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Cultural Adviser to ICESCO Director-General; Dr. Najib Ghiati, Adviser to the General Directorate; Ms. Zineb Iraqi, Supervisor of the General Secretariat of Conferences and National Commissions; and Mr. Bilal Chebbi, Expert at Culture and Communication Sector. The Qatari Committee included Dr. Hamda Hassan Al-Sulaiti, Secretary-General of the Qatari National Commission for Education, Culture and Science; Mr. Hamad al-Adhba, Coordinator-General of the Celebration; Mr. Mohamed Salaan Al-Maari, Chairman of the Cultural and Artistic Committee of the Qatari Ministry of Culture; and Ms. Salwa al-Ubaidali, Data Analysis Expert at the Qatari National Commission.