The Executive Council of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) recommended the renewal of the mandate of Dr. Salim M. AlMalik as Director-General (DG) of the Organization for a second term. The Council decided to submit the recommendation to the Organization’s General Conference, which will be held in Kazan, Tatarstan, on 13 and 14 May 2026. The recommendation was made during the proceedings of the 46th session of the Executive Council, held in person at the Organization’s headquarters in Rabat and remotely, with the participation of representatives from 44 Member States.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the candidate’s country, had expressed its wish to reappoint Dr. AlMalik for a second term, and this nomination was supported by 51 member states.

At its meeting, which commenced on the morning of Wednesday, 6 May 2026, the Council adopted the decisions and projects submitted by the Organization’s General Directorate. The meeting also witnessed the election of Dr. Nawaf Al-Ajarmeh, Secretary-General for Educational and Technical Affairs at the Ministry of Education of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, as President of the Executive Council, with Kazakhstan elected Vice-President and Côte d’Ivoire elected Rapporteur.

The Council’s working sessions also saw the adoption of the Executive Report on ICESCO’s Activities for 2025, the Organization’s Financial Reports for 2024, the Report on Member States’ Contributions to ICESCO’s Budget for 2024, proposal to amend the contribution rates of Member States to the ICESCO budget, and the Draft Strategic Plan and Budget of the Organization (2026-2029), in addition to the adoption of measures related to improving the collection of Member States’ contributions and arrears.

The sessions also included presentations delivered by a number of sector heads and directors of ICESCO centers and departments on the ICESCO Goodwill Ambassadors Program, the strategic partnership between ICESCO and the Republic of Azerbaijan to support and rehabilitate educational infrastructure in the Syrian Arab Republic, as well as Baku Declaration concerning the analytical study on the ICESCO Artificial Intelligence Index for the Islamic world, and the ICESCO Program to Support the Removal of Heritage Sites from the List of World Heritage in Danger.

In his address during the closing session, the ICESCO DG commended the enthusiasm and proactive spirit demonstrated by the members of the Executive Council, noting that such commitment places a renewed responsibility on the Organization to fulfill its noble goals. He also expressed his appreciation for the confidence that the Member States continue to place in ICESCO’s General Directorate.