Category: Director General

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Ambassador Chao Weiding, Director-General of the West Asia and North Africa Bureau of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CCP), on Wednesday, 20 May 2026, at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat, to discuss avenues and mechanisms for cooperation in promoting civilizational dialogue and cultural exchange between China and the Arab and Islamic world.

During the meeting, Dr. AlMalik expressed ICESCO’s willingness to collaborate with Chinese institutions and organizations, highlighting the cultural similarities between the Islamic world and China. He also expressed the Organization’s desire to collaborate with the Chinese side to organize conferences and seminars on civilizational dialogue and coexistence, in line with ICESCO’s approach of openness.

Dr. AlMalik considered strengthening partnership with the People’s Republic of China an important step toward building youth capacities, fostering peace, protecting heritage, promoting student and academic exchange, and restoring cultural sites through the development of joint initiatives and projects.

For his part, Ambassador Chao Weiding commended ICESCO’s efforts in the fields of education, science, and culture, as well as in promoting civilizational exchange and the values of tolerance. He affirmed the willingness of the West Asia and North Africa Department of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China to cooperate with ICESCO in raising awareness of Arab and Islamic culture and enhancing cultural dialogue with China. He also invited Dr. AlMalik to visit China to participate in a number of activities to be organized by the Department in the coming period.

At the close of the meeting, the two sides discussed joint arrangements for organizing the International Forum on Civilizational Dialogue in China, in addition to holding activities in the fields of digitization, technology, innovation, and linguistic exchange. The meeting concluded with an exchange of commemorative shields and gifts.

The meeting was attended by Dr. Mohamed Zinelabidine, Head of ICESCO’s Culture Sector; Dr. Sally Mabrouk, Director of ICESCO Director-General’s Office and Supervisor of the Strategy and Institutional Excellence Sector; Dr. Kuanysh Yergaliyev, Head of ICESCO’s Science and Environment Sector; Dr. Webber Ndoro, Director of ICESCO’s Islamic World Heritage Center; Mr. Smail Ajbaili, Head of the Translation Division; and Dr. Yusuf Muhammed, expert at the Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received on Tuesday, 19 May 2026, at the Organization’s headquarters in Rabat, Mr. Saeed bin Sultan Al Busaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth for Culture of the Sultanate of Oman. The meeting reviewed ways to strengthen joint cooperation in the fields of culture, heritage, and creative industries.

At the outset of the meeting, Mr. Al Busaidi congratulated Dr. AlMalik on his unanimous re-election as Director-General of ICESCO for a second term, commending his leadership of the Organization and the distinction achieved by its programs and projects, which have positioned ICESCO as a centre of expertise in the fields of culture, science, education, and communication.

Dr. AlMalik then affirmed that, over recent years, ICESCO has continued to consolidate its standing as a reference organization and a centre of expertise in its fields of competence, thanks to the launch of high-quality projects and practical initiatives with tangible impact in the Member States. He stressed that the Organization views cooperation with the Sultanate of Oman as an important driver for strengthening joint cultural action, particularly in the areas of heritage preservation, valorization of civilizational heritage, and support for intellectual and literary initiatives in the Islamic world.

Dr. AlMalik renewed the call to inscribe elements and sites from Oman’s rich and diverse heritage on ICESCO’s Heritage Lists in the Islamic World, affirming the Organization’s readiness to provide technical support through its Heritage Center. He also proposed holding one of the meetings of the Heritage Committee in the Islamic World in the Sultanate of Oman, selecting one of the Omani cities as a Capital of Culture in the Islamic World, and strengthening cooperation within the ICESCO Forum of Women Poets, thereby consolidating the Organization’s role as a unifying space for cultural creativity.

For his part, Mr. Saeed bin Sultan Al Busaidi affirmed the Sultanate of Oman’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with ICESCO and regarding it as a strategic partner in the fields of culture and heritage. In this context, he donated three historical manuscripts to the Sultan Qaboos Library, hosted at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat: a complete Qur’an whose pages are framed with gilding and whose opening page is adorned with gold decorations; a copy of Al-Burda Poem transcribed in 1271 AH; and a manuscript on Hajj, the copying of which dates back to before the sixteenth century CE, for inclusion among the library’s rare books and manuscripts.

The meeting was attended on the Omani side by Mr. Khalid Al Harthy, Director-General of Museums and Exhibitions at the Ministry of Culture, and Mr. Khalid Al Busaidi, Director of the Undersecretary’s Office. On the ICESCO side, the meeting was attended by Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Deputy Director-General; Dr. Mohamed Zine El Abidine, Head of the Culture Sector; Dr. Salim Al Habsi, Head of the General Secretariat of National Committees and Conferences; and Dr. Rawda Al-Hajj, Head of the Literature and Poetry Center.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Ambassador Mohamed Ben Youssef, Director-General of the Afro-Arab Cultural Institute, on Tuesday, 19 May 2026, at ICESCO Headquarters in Rabat. The meeting explored cooperation prospects in manuscript restoration, heritage protection, and strengthening the international presence of the Arabic language.

During the meeting, Dr. AlMalik reviewed the Organization’s contributions to heritage preservation, including the inscription of heritage sites and cultural elements, the safeguarding of tangible and intangible heritage, and initiatives to transcribe African languages using the Arabic script.

Dr. AlMalik affirmed ICESCO’s willingness to develop a joint program with the Afro-Arab Cultural Institute to restore the historic Timbuktu manuscripts in Mali and implement activities aimed at raising awareness of shared figures and symbols between the Arab and African worlds.

For his part, Ambassador Ben Youssef commended the Organization’s efforts in recent years to advance initiatives and programs within its areas of competence. He underscored the Institute’s commitment to developing joint activities in teaching Arabic to non-Arabic speakers and promoting civilizational exchange among Arab and African cultures to disseminate the values of coexistence, tolerance, and peace among peoples.

The meeting was attended by Dr. Abdelillah Benarafa, Deputy Director-General of ICESCO; Dr. Mohamed Zine El Abidine, Head of the Culture Sector; Mr. Osama Heikal, Head of the Media and Communication Sector; and Dr. Anas Husam Al-Nuaimi, expert at ICESCO’s Center of Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Mr. El Houssein Ould Meddou, Minister of Culture, Arts, Communication, and Relations with Parliament of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, to discuss ways of strengthening cooperation between the two sides in the fields of media, civilizational dialogue, and the preservation and safeguarding of heritage. The meeting was attended by Mr. Ahmed Ould Bahiya, Ambassador of Mauritania to the Kingdom of Morocco, and Mr. Mohamed Ould Sidi Abdallah, Secretary-General of the Mauritanian National Commission for Education, Culture, and Science.

During the meeting, held on Monday, 18 May 2026, at the Organization’s headquarters in Rabat, Dr. AlMalik stressed that ICESCO attaches the utmost importance to cooperation with Mauritania in the areas of media literacy, civilizational upbringing, and the use of artificial intelligence and digital technologies in the protection of manuscripts and the promotion of the civilizational heritage of the Organization’s Member States, particularly as ICESCO’s vision for the coming period will focus on new horizons of development and innovation.

Dr. AlMalik also underscored the importance of investing in the young men and women of the Islamic world as a creative human capital, which requires equipping them with skills that keep pace with rapid technological developments, within the framework of an innovative action plan aimed at building a prosperous Islamic world.

For his part, Mr. Ould Meddou congratulated Dr. AlMalik on his unanimous re-election by the Organization’s Member States for a new term, noting that this would open new horizons for strengthening the strong partnership between ICESCO and Nouakchott. He also praised the Organization’s sustained efforts in recent years, under the leadership of Dr. AlMalik, in educating younger generations and building youth capacities through initiatives and projects in the fields of education, science, and culture.

The Minister further expressed his Ministry’s readiness to cooperate in disseminating knowledge and raising awareness about prominent figures of the Islamic world, in addition to collaborating on the development of a joint international platform dedicated to promoting Islamic civilizational identity, its values, and its distinctive characteristics.

During the meeting, ICESCO was represented by Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Deputy Director-General; Mr. Osama Heikal, Head of the Media and Communication Sector; and Dr. Salim Al-Habsi, Director of the General Secretariat of National Commissions and Conferences.

Dr. Salim bin Mohamed AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), participated on Thursday, 14 May 2026, in the proceedings of the Culture Ministers’ Conference, held in Kazan, in the Republic of Tatarstan of the Russian Federation, at the invitation of the Russian Ministry of Culture, with the participation of His Excellency Rustam Minnikhanov, Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan, Mr. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, National Leader of Turkmenistan, and several ministers in charge of cultural affairs from across the Islamic world.

In his address, Rais Minnikhanov affirmed that, far from being a mere honorary title, the act of granting Kazan the title of Culture Capital in the Islamic World, under the ICESCO Program for Culture Capitals in the Islamic World, is a crowning of Tatarstan’s contributions to enriching Islamic civilization and building the future, underscoring the significance of celebrating Kazan as a platform for international dialogue.

Meanwhile, National Leader Berdimuhamedow praised the efforts of international organizations, notably ICESCO, in promoting the human values of Islamic world civilization and supporting ICESCO’s Member States in the fields of education, science, and culture. The National Leader also expressed Turkmenistan’s readiness to collaborate with the Organization in implementing several projects.

Dr. AlMalik started his speech by congratulating Turkmenistan on its accession to ICESCO as an observer state, reaffirming the Organization’s readiness to celebrate the city of Ashgabat as a Culture Capital in the Islamic World under its dedicated program for culture capitals. He further noted that, through its various programs and projects in the fields of education, science and scientific research, knowledge dissemination, cultural promotion, and heritage preservation, ICESCO endeavors to broaden the horizons of cooperation with institutions, universities, and research centers in the Russian Federation.

The Director-General commended the strong relationship binding the Islamic world and the Russian Federation together, thanks to their shared values and principles, which strengthen the bonds of tolerance, solidarity, and mutual respect among peoples and communities.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) received on Friday, 8 May 2026, the delegation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia participating in the 2026 International Publishing and Book Fair in Rabat. During the visit, the delegation was briefed on the Organization’s key achievements and programs through a tour of its various sectors and centers.

The delegation, which included representatives of the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission and various other entities, also visited the International Exhibition and Museum of the Prophet’s Seerah and Islamic Civilization, and toured the halls of the Sultan Qaboos Library at ICESCO, where they explored its diverse collection of publications and cultural and knowledge references.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of ICESCO, received the Saudi delegation in his office, welcoming them and reviewing the outcomes of the strategic partnership between ICESCO and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in a number of cultural, educational, and scientific fields.

Dr. AlMalik also expressed ICESCO’s aspiration to participate in the Riyadh International Book Fair, commending its distinguished cultural presence and its active role in supporting the book and publishing industry.

He further praised the initiative of the Saudi delegation to donate a collection of books and publications displayed at the Kingdom’s pavilion to the Sultan Qaboos Library at ICESCO, noting that this contribution would enrich the Library’s holdings and strengthen cultural and knowledge cooperation.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Dr. Dawas Tayseer Rashid Dawas, Assistant Secretary-General for Palestine and Al-Quds Affairs at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), on the occasion of the conclusion of his term as Chair of ICESCO’s Executive Council. Dr. AlMalik expressed his deep appreciation for the efforts exerted by Dr. Dawas during his term and for his valuable contributions to supporting educational and cultural action in the service of the causes of the Islamic world.

During the meeting, held on Thursday, 7 May 2026, at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat, Dr. AlMalik praised Dr. Dawas’ commitment and professionalism, as well as his contributions to advancing the Organization’s orientations and programs. He also commended his previous role as Secretary-General of the Palestinian National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, wishing him success in his current responsibilities.

Dr. AlMalik emphasized that Dr. Dawas’ assumption of his new duties within the Organization of Islamic Cooperation would open broader prospects for coordination between the two organizations, enabling enhanced partnerships, the exchange of expertise, and the development of integrated action.

For his part, Dr. Dawas expressed his appreciation for ICESCO and his pride in having chaired the Executive Council, praising the qualitative progress achieved by the Organization in terms of programs, initiatives, and international presence. He also conveyed the congratulations and regards of H.E. Mr. Hissein Brahim Taha, Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, to Dr. Salim AlMalik on the occasion of submitting a recommendation to ICESCO’s General Conference to re-elect him as Director-General for a second term.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Dr. AlMalik presented Dr. Dawas with a commemorative shield in recognition of his distinguished efforts during his term as Chair of the Organization’s Executive Council and in appreciation of his contributions to supporting ICESCO’s path and strengthening its institutional presence.

The meeting was attended on behalf of ICESCO by Dr. Salim Al-Habsi, Director of the General Secretariat of National Commissions and Conferences, and Mr. Mohamed Hedi Shili, Head of the Division of Legal Affairs and International Standards.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), held a meeting via videoconference on Thursday, 7 May 2026, with Dr. AlBara AlAuhali, Deputy Minister of Cultural Strategies and Policies at the Saudi Ministry of Culture, and Dr. Abdullah Hamidaddin, Assistant Secretary-General for Scientific Affairs at the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, to discuss the progress achieved in the joint project for the Illustrated Dictionary of the History of Arabic Calligraphy.

The discussions focused on the level of progress attained in the project, particularly with regard to the preparation of a scientific framework documenting the most prominent sources of Arabic calligraphy in the Islamic world, including manuscripts, inscriptions, artistic panels, and other materials, in order to present this civilizational heritage in a rigorous scholarly format that highlights its evolution and distinctiveness. The meeting also addressed a proposal to organize a scientific workshop at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat, with the participation of researchers, experts, and specialists in the art of Arabic calligraphy.

In this regard, Dr. AlMalik emphasized that this major cultural project aims to consolidate the authenticity of Arabic calligraphy and highlight its uniqueness, independence, and distinction within its civilizational context. He further noted that the project constitutes one of the reference initiatives with profound impact in the Islamic world, as it will contribute to preserving and documenting this art through an illustrated scientific dictionary comprising three volumes.

Dr. AlMalik added that ICESCO continues to work seriously and in close coordination with its partners on the project, explaining that current efforts include the preparation of a guidebook on the project and the formulation of the titles of the three volumes. He also proposed launching the project from ICESCO headquarters in Rabat in the presence of His Highness Bader bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud, Minister of Culture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which would provide the project with momentum commensurate with its significance.

For his part, Dr. AlBara AlAuhali stressed the particular importance of the dictionary, as it seeks to affirm the authenticity, uniqueness, and independence of Arabic calligraphy, and to highlight its distinction as an art form in its own right rather than one derived from other scripts. He also underscored the importance of completing the project within the established timeframe.

Meanwhile, Dr. Hamidaddin delivered a presentation on the project and its scientific and intellectual dimensions, highlighting that the dictionary seeks to demonstrate the role of Islam as a principal driver in the development and spread of Arabic calligraphy.

During the meeting, ICESCO was represented by Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Deputy Director-General; Dr. Mohamed Zine El Abidine, Head of the Culture Sector; Dr. Ahmed AlBanyan, Director of the Translation and Publishing Center; Dr. Idham Hanash, Director of the Center for Calligraphy and Manuscripts; Dr. Sally Mabrouk, Director of the Office of the Director-General and Supervisor of the Strategy and Institutional Excellence Sector; and Dr. Magdi Haji Ibrahim, Director of the Center for Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers.

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.