The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) announced on Monday, 4 May 2026, the winners of the ICESCO-Azerbaijan Natavan Heritage Excellence Award, launched by the Organization in partnership with the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, with a total value of USD 130,000, in recognition of pioneering initiatives in the conservation and management of tangible heritage in the Islamic world.

During the award ceremony, held following the International Conference on Managing Heritage in Conflict and Post-Conflict Situations in the Islamic World at ICESCO, the awards were presented to the winners by Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General; Mr. Anar Alakbarov, Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Executive Director of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation; and HRH Princess Dana Firas, President of the Petra National Trust and Vice-President of the ICOMOS Bureau.

In the projects category, first place went to the project of “Hebron Rehabilitation Committee” in the State of Palestine, in recognition of its integrated model for heritage conservation and local economic development. The project received a USD 100,000 prize. In the individuals category, Mr. Ayoob Thanoon from Iraq won first place and received a USD 30,000 prize for his dedicated career in heritage protection during his tenure as President of the Mosul Heritage Foundation.

Prior to the awards presentation, Dr. Webber Ndoro, Head of ICESCO’s Islamic World Heritage Center, highlighted the objectives of the award, foremost among them raising awareness of the social and economic dimensions of heritage protection efforts and best practices in the field.

For his part, Mr. Muhammad Al-Absi, expert at ICESCO’s Islamic World Heritage Center, shed light on the broad participation in the award’s first edition, which received 54 applications from 22 ICESCO Member States.