Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Mr. Yousef bin Abdullah Al-Benyan, Minister of Education of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on the sidelines of their participation in the Golden Jubilee celebration of the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States, held on Wednesday 14 January 2026, in Riyadh.

The meeting discussed avenues for cooperation between the Saudi Ministry of Education and ICESCO in the fields of education, with a view to strengthening efforts aimed at advancing education and promoting its humanitarian and civilizational values.

The Saudi Minister of Education commended ICESCO’s pioneering role in supporting educational issues in the Islamic world and its implementation of qualitative initiatives and programs that contribute to improving educational systems.

For his part, Dr. AlMalik presented ICESCO’s civic upbringing initiative, proposing it as a framework for cooperation between the Ministry and the Organization, given the significant convergence of visions between the two sides. He explained that the initiative is based on two main pillars: promoting identity, values, and knowledge; and fostering responsible civilizational openness to others.

Moreover, Dr. AlMalik stressed, in light of the Kingdom’s leading role in supporting countries in the field of education, the importance of disseminating Saudi Arabia’s pioneering educational experience to several Islamic world countries, thereby helping to bridge their educational gaps and promoting inclusive and equitable education that meets current challenges.

At the close of the meeting, the two parties agreed to arrange a visit for a team from the Saudi Ministry of Education to ICESCO’s headquarters in Rabat, with the aim of establishing a new institutional partnership, particularly with regard to civic upbringing and supporting countries facing educational challenges.