Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Dr. Laila bint Ahmed Al Najjar, Minister of Social Development of the Sultanate of Oman, on Friday, 17 April 2026, at the Organization’s headquarters in Rabat, to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation between ICESCO and the Ministry in the fields of safe childhood, family cohesion, and civilizational upbringing.

During the meeting, attended by Ambassador Khalid Salim Bamakhalif, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to the Kingdom of Morocco, Dr. AlMalik expressed ICESCO’s pride in its distinguished partnership with the Sultanate of Oman, which has resulted in the joint organization of activities, programs, conferences, and projects, most recently the inauguration of the Sultan Qaboos Library at ICESCO’s headquarters with the generous support of the Sultanate of Oman.

The Director-General underscored the importance of cooperation in raising awareness of the concept of civilizational upbringing, with a view to strengthening young people’s attachment to the values of the Islamic world while encouraging openness to world cultures. He also reviewed ICESCO’s contributions to building the leadership and creative capacities of youth and women in the Islamic world through the development of training programs in modern technologies and innovation.

For her part, the Omani Minister commended ICESCO’s efforts in keeping pace with contemporary issues and the priorities of the Organization’s Member States, in disseminating knowledge and maximizing benefit. She expressed the Ministry’s willingness to develop programs and projects in the areas of safe childhood and family cohesion, and to harness modern technologies to support persons with disabilities.

Following the meeting, Dr. AlMalik accompanied the Minister and her delegation on a tour of the Sultan Qaboos Library, which houses more than 6,000 printed titles, nearly 200,000 digital publications, and a number of rare documentary treasures, including a copy of the Holy Quran handwritten by Ibn al-Bawwab. They also visited the International Exhibition and Museum of the Prophet’s Seerah and Islamic Civilization housed at ICESCO’s headquarters.

The meeting also saw the presence of Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Deputy Director-General; Mr. Osama Heikal, Head of the Media and Communication Sector; Dr. Sally Mabrouk, Director of the Director-General’s Office and Supervisor of the Strategy and Institutional Excellence Sector; Ms. Ramata Almamy Mbaye, Head of the Human and Social Sciences Sector; Ambassador Khaled Fatahalrahman, Director of the Center for Civilizational Dialogue; and Dr. Salim Al-Habsi, Director of the General Secretariat of National Commissions and Conferences.