The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in partnership with the Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences, launched the regional project “Language Immersion for Arabic Learners in Southeast Asia” in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Cambodia. The launch took place during a ceremony held on Monday, 11 August 2025, in Jakarta, the Indonesian capital and the project’s first stop, which will host educational and cultural activities as well as competitions over a two-month period.

The inauguration ceremony, aimed at middle school students, was attended by high-profile figures, including Dr. Pianto M. Aghi, representative of the Indonesian Ministry of Education; Dr. Aslam Abidin, Director of Al Binaa Islamic Boarding School; and Dr. Mutawakil Elfadni, Director of MS Asia Company, along with representatives of educational bodies and schools in the capital and its surroundings, as well as prominent political, social, and cultural figures.

Dr. Anas Husam Said Al-Nuaimi, expert at the Arabic Language Center for Non-Arabic Speakers, represented ICESCO at the event. He affirmed in his speech the Organization’s commitment to promoting the Arabic language and strengthening its global presence through various projects it has implemented and continues to implement in both Member and non-Member States. He noted that the newly launched project will work on developing learners’ linguistic abilities by creating an Arabic-speaking environment in which the learner actively interacts with the language.

The project, which will subsequently move on to Malaysia and Cambodia, aims to create an inspiring and stimulating educational environment for learners, facilitating the acquisition of language skills by providing authentic immersive learning experiences through direct interaction with native speakers. It also seeks to build bridges of cultural and civilizational exchange between learners and their home countries through the Arabic language, its culture, and its heritage.