At the invitation of the Ministry of Culture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), visited Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale, which opened its third edition on Friday, January 30, 2026, in Diriyah, under the theme “In Interludes and Transitions,” with the participation of sixty-eight artists from more than 37 countries.

On this occasion, Dr. AlMalik said that the Diriyah Biennale affirms the status and presence of contemporary art and its ability to be a mirror of the memory of peoples and a human language that transcends borders, noting that the third edition of the Biennale reveals the deep roots of art in peoples’ cultures and memories, and its role in shaping their consciousness and future.

The Director-General of ICESCO emphasized that the Biennale is the fruit of concerted efforts that reflect some of the prospects of the Kingdom’s 2030 Vision as a forward-looking cultural vision that strides confidently toward a future shaped by culture and arts as one of the pillars of the Saudi renaissance.

Dr. AlMalik congratulated the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on this achievement, calling on Member States to promote contemporary art and place it at the forefront of their national agendas.