Category: Director General

His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Member of the Federal Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Fujairah, received at Al Rumailah Palace Mr. Osama Heikal, Head of the Media and Communication Sector at the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), along with a group of prominent media figures from the Arab and Islamic worlds participating in the Fujairah Media Forum 2026. The Forum is organized by the Fujairah Media Office and will be held over two days, 10 and 11 February 2026, under the theme: “New Media: Masks of Truth.”

During the meeting, His Highness welcomed the participants and underscored the importance of media as an influential soft power in shaping societal awareness, entrenching values, strengthening the presence of national identity in society, and developing a sustainable digital knowledge economy. Moreover, he noted that while AI applications are driving progress in media practices, they also pose challenges to content credibility and information accuracy, which calls for stronger professional standards and greater media responsibility.

H.H. further emphasized that the Forum, which brings together an elite group of ministers, experts, decision-makers, and media professionals from the Arab world, serves as an important platform for discussing the challenges facing the media field. It also provides an opportunity to exchange expertise and enhance the media ecosystem in ways that promote responsible media, keep pace with ongoing changes, and elevate media sector performance.

Over its two days, the Fujairah Media Forum will feature a series of specialized media sessions and seminars focusing on new media, digital transformations, content credibility, and the role of media in confronting contemporary challenges.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Dr. Anass Smaili, Director of the National Documentation Center, affiliated with the High Commission for Planning of the Kingdom of Morocco, today, Tuesday 10 February 2026, at the Organization’s headquarters in Rabat. The meeting focused on exploring prospects for cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

During the Meeting, Dr. AlMalik delivered a brief overview of ICESCO’s vision and strategic orientations, highlighting the flagship programs and projects implemented for the benefit of its Member States. He underscored the Organization’s interest in advancing knowledge documentation pathways, expanding access to content, and strengthening partnerships with specialized national and international institutions.

For his part, Dr. Smaili commended the role that ICESCO plays in its areas of competence. He also reviewed the mandate of the Moroccan National Documentation Center and the range of information services and activities it provides, emphasizing the Center’s interest in leveraging artificial intelligence for data digitization and documentation cataloguing, by drawing on ICESCO’s expertise in this field.
Furthermore, the two parties discussed ways to enrich the Sultan Qaboos Library, may Allah rest his soul, which is hosted at ICESCO’s headquarters in Rabat, with a collection of books and rare manuscripts related to the history and heritage of Morocco, thereby enabling library visitors to become acquainted with key milestones of the Moroccan collective memory.

At the close of the meeting, the Director of the National Documentation Center of Morocco extended an invitation to ICESCO to participate in an international conference that the Center plans to organize in Rabat, in April 2026, focusing on the centrality of documentation and its importance in decision-making. For his part, Dr. AlMalik affirmed the Organization’s readiness to mobilize its expertise in support of joint initiatives in the field of documentation.

The meeting was attended on behalf of ICESCO by Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Deputy Director-General, and Dr. Ahmed Al-Banyan, Director of the Translation and Publishing Center. The National Documentation Center was represented by Ms. Najat Bourita, Head of Institutional Cooperation and Agreements.

In the presence of H.E. Rustam Minnikhanov, Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan, a strategic cooperation agreement was signed between the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), represented by its Director-General, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, and the Ministry of Culture of Tatarstan, represented by its Minister, Ms. Irada Ayupova. The agreement was signed on Sunday, 8 February 2026, at the Russian House in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The agreement reflects a shared vision grounded in the belief in the role of culture as a bridge for civilizational dialogue, a driver of human coexistence, and an effective tool for building a future of understanding and complementarity. It aims to strengthen cultural exchange, support qualitative initiatives in education, culture, science, and creativity, and safeguard heritage in the Islamic world as a living archive of peoples and an essential component of their civilizational history.

The agreement also places particular emphasis on empowering youth and women through capacity building, promoting innovation, and advancing sustainable and social development, thereby reinforcing the role of human beings as both the focus and the ultimate goal of development.

Its provisions highlight the promotion of Kazan as the Cultural Capital in the Islamic World, and as a platform for cultural creativity and innovation, in a manner befitting its historical and civilizational standing, reflecting its deep presence in the cultural sphere of the Islamic world and its growing role in the coming years.

The signing ceremony was attended by a number of senior officials and prominent figures from the Republic of Tatarstan, underscoring the depth of cultural relations and marking a transition from cooperation to impactful partnership.

This cooperation comes as part of the preparations to celebrate Kazan as the 2026 Cultural Capital in the Islamic World. Throughout the year, the city will host an extensive cultural program and a range of qualitative activities that highlight youth potential, support creative initiatives, and strengthen cultural identity as the collective memory of peoples and a lasting source of civilizational development.

A roundtable discussion was held on Sunday, 8 February 2026, at the Russian House in Jeddah to mark one hundred years since the establishment of Saudi–Russian relations. The session was attended by H.E. Rustam Minnikhanov, Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan of the Russian Federation, along with his accompanying delegation.

The discussion brought together Dr. Abdulaziz Khoja, former Saudi Minister of Information and the Kingdom’s first Ambassador to Russia, and Dr. Muhammad Al-Yami, Director-General of the Union of News Agencies of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (UNA).

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), also took part in the session. In his remarks, he highlighted the importance of Saudi–Russian relations and underscored their advanced model of international partnership built on mutual respect and shared interests.

The session reviewed the history of relations between the two countries. H.E. Rais Minnikhanov emphasized their deep historical roots and steady development across various fields. Dr. AlMalik also noted the distinguished status of the city of Kazan within the Islamic world, reflected in its designation as the Cultural Capital in the Islamic World for this year, highlighting its cultural, civilizational, and historical significance.

On Thursday, February 5, 2026, the training program, “AI Uses in News Writing and Targeted Media Content Production,” concluded its proceedings in the State of Kuwait. The five-day training program was organized by the Media and Communication Sector of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in partnership with the Media Development Center of the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), with the aim of honing the skills of 16 media professionals, journalists, and content creators from eight Member States and enabling them to employ the latest digital technologies in their fields of work.

The closing ceremony was organized at KUNA headquarters and sponsored by Kuwait Airways and Bukhamseen Holding Group. The ceremony featured presentations by participants on the practical activities they had prepared during the training days, notably AI-generated videos.

Afterwards, Dr. Barakat Al-Wegyan, Director of Communication at ICESCO’s Media and Communication Sector, stressed the importance of building young people’s capacities and providing them with the necessary tools to take full advantage of the opportunities offered by artificial intelligence. The ICESCO official also highlighted the Organization’s efforts to promote the use of artificial intelligence, modern technology, and innovation in Member States.

For his part, Mr. Thamer Al-Furaih, Head of the KUNA Media Development Center, stressed the need to entrench a forward-looking and sustainable development approach in training and research centers in the Islamic world, especially in the field of journalism and media, in order to keep pace with the latest developments and raise a creative generation that is aware of the ethics and values of employing artificial intelligence.

At the close of the ceremony, graduation certificates were presented to the participants for successfully completing the training program.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Sayyid Saeed bin Sultan Al Busaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth for Culture of the Sultanate of Oman. The two officials explored ways of strengthening cooperation between ICESCO and the Ministry in the field of supporting cultural and creative industries.

At the beginning of the meeting, held on Thursday, February 5, 2026, in Muscat, Dr. AlMalik commended the remarkable efforts made by the Ministry under the leadership of His Highness Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham Al Said, Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth. He also appreciated the Sultanate of Oman’s continued support for ICESCO’s programs and initiatives serving the Islamic world, particularly in the fields of knowledge dissemination, artificial intelligence, and heritage preservation and promotion.

Dr. AlMalik reiterated his call for the inscription of Oman’s rich and diverse heritage on ICESCO’s Islamic World Heritage List, emphasizing the Organization’s willingness, through its Islamic World Heritage Center, to cooperate and provide technical support in this regard.

Moreover, the meeting was an opportunity to discuss ways of supporting the Sultan Qaboos Library—may Allah rest his soul—located at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat, which houses a collection of rare books and manuscripts.

The meeting also saw the presence of Dr. Salim Al Habsi, Director of the General Secretariat for National Commissions and Conferences of ICESCO.

Dr. AlMalik: Artificial Intelligence Is a Platform for Improving Quality of Life, Shifting Societies from Sufficiency to Creativity

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), emphasized that artificial intelligence has become a new platform for improving the quality of life, increasing job opportunities, and consolidating the pillars of effective governance, thus taking societies from sufficiency to societal creativity and promoting sustainable development.

His remarks came on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, during the two-day International Conference on Data and AI Capacity Building (ICAN 2026), organized by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) in Riyadh, in partnership with King Saud University and the Human Capability Development Program (HCDP), in the presence of experts and specialists from more than 50 local and international bodies, to discuss the future of humanity in education and work in the age of artificial intelligence.

Dr. AlMalik shed light on the Riyadh Charter of Artificial Intelligence for the Islamic World, launched by ICESCO in partnership with SDAIA, as an ethical and strategic reference framework that guides the responsible development and use of artificial intelligence and promotes its use in the service of humanity and sustainable development, stressing that capacity building is the key to reducing development gaps.

In this regard, the ICESCO Director-General called on the ministries of education of Member States to adopt educational plans that incorporate artificial intelligence technologies into educational curricula, while including the principles of the Riyadh Charter with its ethical foundations.

Dr. AlMalik also warned of rapid changes in the job market, noting that artificial intelligence will lead to a decline in the number of traditional jobs, which will be replaced by emerging jobs with new names and skills, requiring accelerated efforts in preparation and continuous training.

In this context, the ICESCO Director-General commended the measures adopted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to keep pace with this historic transformation through human capacity development programs, the development of the education and training system, and the anticipation of future skills.

For his part, Dr. Kais Hammami, Director of ICESCO’s Center for Foresight and Artificial Intelligence, participated in one of the conference sessions entitled “From National Data and Artificial Intelligence Strategies to Measurable Impact,” in which he reviewed ICESCO’s Artificial Intelligence Index in the Islamic World, emphasizing that it is a practical tool for assessing readiness, identifying gaps, and supporting policies in Member States.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Dr. Tariq Salem Al-Abkari, Minister of Education of the Republic of Yemen, on the sidelines of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States, held on Wednesday 14 January 2026, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed potential avenues of joint cooperation between ICESCO and Yemen’s Ministry of Education, and reviewed the support and educational programs that the Organization can provide, in light of the positive indicators and the relative stabilization currently witnessed by the Republic of Yemen, and the opportunities this presents for rebuilding its educational system.

The two sides stressed the importance of strengthening institutional coordination and cooperation and launching new educational initiatives that take into account the current situation in Yemen and respond to urgent needs in the areas of basic education, capacity building, and support for educational stability.

In addition, both parties agreed to hold a joint meeting in the coming days with ICESCO and the Yemen Support Fund, along with a number of international and regional institutions willing to provide support and assistance in the fields of education and training, thereby contributing to the unification of efforts and maximizing impact.

In the context of capacity building, it was agreed to send a number of Yemeni administrative personnel working in the Ministry of Education for training at ICESCO, in addition to involving a group of Yemeni young men and women in specialized training programs for specific periods, aimed at qualifying them to contribute to the leadership and management of educational work and the implementation of educational projects and initiatives in Yemen.

Dr. AlMalik reiterated ICESCO’s readiness to provide all possible forms of support to Yemen and to launch new initiatives that contribute to reducing student dropout rates, retraining teachers, and strengthening the resilience of the education system, thereby supporting the launch of a new educational journey based on partnership, human development, and looking to the future.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) participated in the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States, which were held in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, under the patronage and in the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Governor of Riyadh Province.

ICESCO was represented at this occasion by Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Organization, in the presence of Their Highnesses, Excellencies the Ministers of Education of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, heads of international and regional organizations, and an elite group of experts and specialists in education.

The celebration featured official remarks reviewing the journey of the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States from its establishment to the present day. It was noted that the Bureau was founded 50 years ago and entrusted with providing foresight into the future of education in the Gulf States by conducting studies, research, and benchmarking comparisons with educational experiences in advanced countries. These efforts have contributed to the development of educational policies, benefiting the Gulf States and their educational institutions over decades.

The speakers also highlighted the Bureau’s organization of conferences, seminars, and capacity-building programs, in addition to specialized prizes in education-related fields, which have had a tangible impact on advancing educational work in the Gulf region.

The occasion reflected institutional integration and a spirit of fraternity among the Gulf States, as the Ministers of Education, during the discussion session preceding the celebration, reaffirmed the importance of the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States and their countries’ sustained commitment to supporting it, in recognition of its pivotal role in advancing education and educational development in the region.