The Culture Sector at the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) participated in an international seminar titled “The Arab World in the Twenty-First Century: Challenges to Renaissance and the Absence of a Common Vision,” organized by the Dialogue Lab of the Gulf Research Center, in cooperation with the Arab Thought Forum, via videoconference on Tuesday, 3 March 2026.

In his address, Dr. Mohamed Zine El Abidine, Head of ICESCO’s Culture Sector, stressed the need to focus on comprehensive development, educational, social, economic, and cultural, across the Arab and Islamic worlds, noting that weak development indicators in general continue to hinder progress and growth in Arab societies.

He emphasized that the real priority today lies in enhancing the quality of education, higher education, and scientific research, in addition to strengthening women’s rights, as essential elements for building individuals’ capacities to improve their personal and collective realities.

Dr. Zine El Abidine also reviewed a set of general indicators reflecting the cultural landscape in the Islamic world and highlighted ICESCO’s efforts in promoting culture as a fundamental pillar of sustainable development across its Member States. In this context, he explained that the Organization has proposed the inclusion of an 18TH goal dedicated to culture within the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The seminar, moderated by Dr. Zaid Alfadeil, Cultural Program Director at the Gulf Research Center, featured insightful contributions and in-depth discussions with the participation of writer Samira Rajab, Dr. Saoud El Mawla, researcher and university professor, and Al-Sadiq Al-Faqih, Sudanese thinker and diplomat. Additional participants were also invited to share their remarks and broaden the scope of discussion.