Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, President of the American University of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, to explore avenues for cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

The meeting, held on Friday, 18 April 2025, at ICESCO’s headquarters in Rabat, featured a presentation by Dr. AlMalik on the Organization’s initiatives, programs, and activities across its various sectors, departments, and centers. He emphasized ICESCO’s efforts in capacity-building, particularly targeting youth and women, and highlighted the establishment of new specialized centers, including the Calligraphy and Manuscripts Center, the Training Center, and the Center for Poetry and Literature, in addition to the recently launched Media and Communication Sector.

Dr. AlMalik also briefed Her Highness on ICESCO’s ongoing institutional development, which has reinforced its position as a leading organization and a hub of expertise in its fields of action. He outlined the Organization’s strategic expansion through regional offices and centers in several Member States and its forward-looking vision designed to address emerging global challenges.

The Director-General explained that ICESCO’s vision places significant emphasis on preserving and safeguarding the heritage of the Islamic world, inscribing historical sites and cultural elements on Islamic World Heritage Lists, and digitizing them. He also pointed to the launch of programs in the field of creative and cultural industries, noting that the Organization focuses on contributing to the support of good governance, enhancing knowledge production, encouraging the use of space sciences and artificial intelligence technologies, and developing the skills required for future professions, all in service of its Member States and in pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals.

For her part, Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qasimi praised ICESCO’s role in advancing education, science, and culture, its expansion into new fields, and the modernization of its operational frameworks and specializations. She reaffirmed her commitment to fostering a strong and fruitful partnership with ICESCO in the future.