Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO); H.H. Sheikh Rashid bin Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Supreme Chairman of the Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences; and Ms. Leyla Aliyeva, Vice President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation in the Republic of Azerbaijan, attended the award ceremony of the Fourth Edition of the Hamdan-ICESCO Prize for Voluntary Development of Education Facilities in the Islamic World. The award ceremony was held on Monday, December 8, 2025, at the International Conference on the Launch of the ICESCO AI Index for the Islamic World, in Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan.

On this occasion, Dr. AlMalik highlighted the outstanding partnership between ICESCO and the Hamdan bin Rashid Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences, which has yielded pioneering initiatives that have opened new paths in education in the Islamic world. These include, Dr. AlMalik further explained, the launch of the “Mishkat” platform, benefiting thousands of teachers around the world, the creation of academic and research chairs and educational poles, and the launch of this prestigious award.

Moreover, the Director-General noted that the renewal of the Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Fund agreement reflects the significance of this partnership aimed at supporting ICESCO’s programs and initiatives in the fields of education and training in the Islamic world. He concluded his remarks by expressing his deepest gratitude and appreciation to Sheikh Rashid bin Hamdan bin Rashid for the Foundation’s support of ICESCO’s initiatives and programs.

The winners of the Fourth Edition of the Prize were the Hadramout Foundation – Human Development Foundation from Yemen for its “Model Schools Project,” the Heydar Aliyev Foundation from Azerbaijan for its “Educational and Social Support Program,” and the Moroccan Foundation for Primary Education for its project aimed at equipping primary education classrooms in rural, semi-rural, and urban areas. The representatives of the three winning institutions received USD 100,000 each in addition to an honorary shield commemorating the occasion.