The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) received the King Salman Global Academy Award for the Arabic Language for the year 2022 in the category of institutions that spread linguistic awareness and innovate linguistic community initiatives during a large ceremony organized by the Academy in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, on Saturday evening, November 12, 2022, under the patronage of His Highness Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, Saudi Minister of Culture, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the King Salman International Complex for the Arabic Language.

In an address delivered on his behalf by Deputy Minister Hamid bin Muhammad Fayez, the Saudi Minister of Culture noted that the number of qualified institutions and individuals in the four award categories demonstrates the positive competition among players in the field of Arabic language at the local and international levels, adding that the Complex was established to highlight the value of the Arabic language and serve as an international scientific reference in the field.

For his part, Dr. Abdullah bin Saleh Al-Washmi, Secretary-General of the Complex, stressed that the award reflects the great legacy of the Arabic language as it encompasses multiple civilizations and vast geographical ranges and that there are several scholars who teach and learn Arabic across the globe.

Honorary shields were then handed over to the winning individuals and institutions in the four award categories: teaching and learning the Arabic language; computing the Arabic language and its services with modern technologies; research of the Arabic language and its scientific studies; and spreading linguistic awareness and innovating linguistic community initiatives.

Dr. Majdi Bin Haji Ibrahim, Head of the ICESCO Center of Arabic for non-Arabic Speakers, received the prize which was awarded to the Organization in recognition of its contribution to a range of qualitative projects in four geographical regions in both Arab and non-Arab countries, its efforts to enhance the capacities of Member States, and its joint coordination to implement educational and cultural programmes in various fields, most notably in the field of teaching Arabic to non-Arabic speakers, as well as its commendable programmes, publications and cooperation agreements.