The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the Department of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities of the General Secretariat of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf () held a meeting to discuss prospects for cooperation and build a strategic partnership between ICESCO and GCC General Secretariat in the cultural field.

During the meeting, held on Thursday (February 9, 2023) via visual videoconference, Ms. Amira El-Fadil, Head of Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector at ICESCO, expressed the Organization’s keenness to enhance cooperation with the GCC in the fields of culture and heritage, within the framework of its endeavor to maximize the role of culture and promote solidarity between Muslim.

Dr. Mohammed Zinelabidine, Head of Culture and Communication Sector at ICESCO, reviewed the proposed cooperation, most notably projects and programs in the field of cultural economy, the purple economy, and the inscription of archaeological sites and cultural elements on ICESCO’s Islamic World Heritage List.

For his part, Dr. Saad bin Mohammed Al-Zoghaibi, Director of the Department of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities, expressed the keenness of the General Secretariat to cooperate with ICESCO in culture and heritage, within the framework of the openness and cooperation initiative of the General Secretariat.
At the close of the meeting, the two parties agreed to sign a joint memorandum of understanding covering the fields of culture and tangible and intangible heritage to embody cooperation during the coming period.

The meeting saw the participation of Dr. Nami Salehi, Director of the Islamic World Heritage Center at ICESCO, Dr. Salim Al Habsi, Programs Manager at ICESCO General Secretariat of National Commissions and Conferences, and Mr. Omar Hamed, expert at the Partnership and International Cooperation Sector of ICESCO, as well as Mr. Bandar Al-Makhlafi, Head of the Department of Culture and Arts the General Secretariat of the Council.