Category: Director General

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences signed an updated framework agreement regarding the “Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Fund to Support ICESCO.” This Agreement establishes a comprehensive reference framework regulating the strategic partnership between the two sides and enhancing institutional coordination for the development of education in Islamic world countries.

The Agreement was signed on Monday, 8 December 2025, in Baku, Azerbaijan, by Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director General, and Mr. Humaid Mohammad Al Qutami, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation. It aims to support a range of educational and pedagogical programs implemented by ICESCO in its Member States, with particular emphasis on teaching Arabic to non-Arabic speakers through advanced technologies. The Agreement also intends to bolster programs of the “Mishkat” platform for distance training, launched jointly by the two parties.

Furthermore, the Agreement seeks to achieve a set of strategic objectives, most notably supporting the quality of education and advancing educational systems in Member States, strengthening pedagogical capacities, exchanging knowledge and expertise, in addition to promoting a culture of educational excellence.

It is noteworthy that the Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Fund to Support ICESCO constitutes an effective and sustainable mechanism for financing joint programs and projects that align with ICESCO’s priorities and the Foundation’s directions in the fields of education, scientific research, and educational excellence.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at enhancing cooperation in the fields of cultural heritage preservation and intercultural dialogue on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at the Foundation’s headquarters in Baku, Azerbaijan.

The agreement was signed by Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of ICESCO, and Ms. Aktoty Raimkulova, President of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation, in the presence of Mr. Anar Karimov, Head of ICESCO’s Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector, Dr. Abdulhakeem AlSenan, Director of ICESCO’s Regional Office in Baku, and a group of the Foundation’s leaders.

Following the signing ceremony, Dr. AlMalik affirmed ICESCO’s interest in building international partnerships to foster cultural understanding, noting that cooperation between the two parties will open broad horizons for joint projects focusing on creativity and cultural exchange.

For her part, Ms. Raimkulova emphasized that the memorandum constitutes a strong framework for joint action to preserve the region’s rich cultural heritage, noting the Foundation’s commitment to cooperating with ICESCO to implement innovative programs that promote awareness of heritage and support scientific research.

The MoU provides for the launch of joint initiatives that contribute to the protection of tangible and intangible cultural heritage, the promotion of cultural education, and the strengthening of ties between ICESCO Member States and Turkic States.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in cooperation with the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Ministry of Science and Education of Azerbaijan, launched the ICESCO AI Index for the Islamic World to measure trends in AI development among the Member States. The Index was launched during an international AI conference held on Monday, 8 December 2025, in Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan.

The conference was attended by Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General; His Highness Sheikh Rashid bin Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Supreme Chairman of the Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences; Ms. Leyla Aliyeva, Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation in Azerbaijan; and Mr. Emin Amrullayev, Minister of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan, along with senior officials and experts from across the Islamic world.

In his opening address, Dr. AlMalik stressed that the ICESCO Index will assess countries’ readiness, guide policy-making, and foster creativity in the field of Artificial Intelligence, noting that the Index project, which currently includes nine leading countries in the Islamic world, is part of efforts to implement the Riyadh Charter on Artificial Intelligence in the Islamic World, which serves as the ethical and strategic reference for ICESCO Member States.

Dr. AlMalik further explained that the development of AI technologies should be based on three principles, namely adapting educational processes for AI applications by disseminating guidelines and training teachers to integrate AI tools, empowering women and girls in STEM, and creating an environment conducive to innovation and creativity in the Member States.

In her remarks, Ms. Leyla Aliyeva emphasized the importance of accurately assessing the AI impact on societies and guiding youth to seize the opportunities offered by this technology while raising awareness of its risks.

For his part, Mr. Emin Amrullayev stated that AI offers broad possibilities for building fair and inclusive educational systems, stressing the need for ethical responsibility in applying this technology in education.

The conference then moved to panel discussions featuring contributions from Dr. Kais Hammami, Head of ICESCO’s Center for Foresight and Artificial Intelligence, and Ms. Ouiam Chafik from the same Center. At the close of the conference, the Baku Declaration on the AI Index for the Islamic World was adopted, commending the ICESCO Index and highlighting AI’s potential to improve education, healthcare, cultural heritage preservation, economic development, and environmental management.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO); H.H. Sheikh Rashid bin Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Supreme Chairman of the Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences; and Ms. Leyla Aliyeva, Vice President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation in the Republic of Azerbaijan, attended the award ceremony of the Fourth Edition of the Hamdan-ICESCO Prize for Voluntary Development of Education Facilities in the Islamic World. The award ceremony was held on Monday, December 8, 2025, at the International Conference on the Launch of the ICESCO AI Index for the Islamic World, in Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan.

On this occasion, Dr. AlMalik highlighted the outstanding partnership between ICESCO and the Hamdan bin Rashid Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences, which has yielded pioneering initiatives that have opened new paths in education in the Islamic world. These include, Dr. AlMalik further explained, the launch of the “Mishkat” platform, benefiting thousands of teachers around the world, the creation of academic and research chairs and educational poles, and the launch of this prestigious award.

Moreover, the Director-General noted that the renewal of the Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Fund agreement reflects the significance of this partnership aimed at supporting ICESCO’s programs and initiatives in the fields of education and training in the Islamic world. He concluded his remarks by expressing his deepest gratitude and appreciation to Sheikh Rashid bin Hamdan bin Rashid for the Foundation’s support of ICESCO’s initiatives and programs.

The winners of the Fourth Edition of the Prize were the Hadramout Foundation – Human Development Foundation from Yemen for its “Model Schools Project,” the Heydar Aliyev Foundation from Azerbaijan for its “Educational and Social Support Program,” and the Moroccan Foundation for Primary Education for its project aimed at equipping primary education classrooms in rural, semi-rural, and urban areas. The representatives of the three winning institutions received USD 100,000 each in addition to an honorary shield commemorating the occasion.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the Heydar Aliyev Foundation of the Republic of Azerbaijan signed, on Monday, 8 December 2025, a sponsorship and funding agreement for the project “Educational and Social Support for Displaced Girls and Boarders” in the Republic of Niger. The signing took place on the sidelines of the International Conference to Launch the ICESCO AI Index for the Islamic World, held in Baku, Azerbaijan.

The agreement was signed by Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, and Mrs. Leyla Aliyeva, Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, in the presence of Dr. Abdulhakeem AlSenan, Director of ICESCO’s Regional Office in Baku, and Mr. Anar Alakbarov, Executive Director of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.

Following the signing ceremony, Dr. AlMalik expressed his appreciation for Azerbaijan’s continued support for ICESCO’s activities and programs across the Islamic world, and commended Baku for its distinguished hosting of numerous international conferences organized by the Organization.

For her part, Mrs. Leyla Aliyeva extended her gratitude to ICESCO for its initiatives and programs in the fields of heritage preservation, valorization, and the promotion of Azerbaijani culture.

Both parties affirmed that the close relations between ICESCO and the Foundation, chaired by Azerbaijan’s First Vice-President, Mehriban Aliyeva, constitute one of the pillars of the solid strategic partnership between the two sides.

It is worth noting that ICESCO and the Foundation previously implemented a project to support the education of displaced girls in the Republic of Burkina Faso. It provided essential educational resources, guidance, and life-skills training for girls affected by displacement and economic hardship.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the Labour Center of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at strengthening cooperation in promoting human capital development and enhancing social protection in Member States.

The memorandum was signed on Monday, 8 December 2025, in Baku, Azerbaijan, by Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, and Mr. Azar Bayramov, Director-General of the OIC Labour Center, in the presence of senior officials from both parties.

Following the signing ceremony, Dr. AlMalik emphasized that this partnership represents an important step toward reinforcing ICESCO’s role in supporting Member States and coordinating joint efforts to achieve sustainable development in the labor and education sectors, while building resilient, inclusive, knowledge-based societies.

For his part, Mr. Bayramov stated that the memorandum lays a solid foundation for practical cooperation with ICESCO, enabling the OIC Labour Center to contribute more effectively to developing labor policies, improving working conditions, and expanding social protection mechanisms across Member States.

The OIC Labour Center serves as a strategic institution aimed at enhancing labour conditions, promoting employment opportunities, and fostering social protection systems across its Member States. It emphasizes the crucial need to ensure decent work, sustainable social protection, and poverty reduction within OIC Member States.

H.E. President Azali Assoumani, President of the Union of the Comoros, visited the International Exhibition and Museum of the Prophet’s Seerah and Islamic Civilization at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat on Friday, December 5, 2025. He was warmly received by Dr. Salim AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Organization.

The ICESCO DG accompanied H.E. the President on a tour of the museum, explaining that it is the fruit of a strategic partnership between ICESCO, the Muslim World League, and the Mohammadia League of Scholars. He also pointed out that the museum is part of ICESCO’s efforts to present an accurate image of Islam and convey its civilizational message, noting that over nine million visitors have toured the musuem since its opening in November 2022.

During the tour, H.E. the President explored the interactive exhibits showcasing key moments from the life of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), highlighting Islam’s message of justice, peace, mercy, tolerance, and coexistence, through modern technologies that allow visitors to experience the atmosphere of the Prophet’s era as if firsthand.

At the conclusion of the tour, H.E. President Azali Assoumani expressed his admiration for ICESCO’s work in preserving the Prophet’s Seerah and advancing the causes of the Islamic world, praising the museum as a contemporary civilizational model for presenting Islam’s message.

His Excellency President Azali Assoumani, President of the Union of the Comoros, visited the headquarters of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) in Rabat, Morocco, on Friday, 5 December 2025. He was received by Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General (DG), along with several heads and directors of sectors, centers, and departments at the Organization.

As part of the visit, a meeting was held with the participation of Mr. Youssouf Said Ali, the President’s Advisor for Education Affairs, and Ambassador Yahya Mohamed Elias, Ambassador of the Union of the Comoros to the Kingdom of Morocco, to discuss ways of strengthening cooperation between ICESCO and the Comoros in the fields of teaching Arabic to non-Arabic speakers, scientific research and higher education, and heritage preservation and valorization.

During the meeting, Dr. AlMalik welcomed H.E. President Azali Assoumani at ICESCO’s headquarters, and presented the key pillars of the Organization’s vision and strategic directions, as well as its activities, programs, and initiatives. He further reviewed the programs jointly implemented during the past period.

Dr. AlMalik underscored the Organization’s significant progress in the project to rehabilitate its Delegation for teaching Arabic in the capital, Moroni, in partnership with the Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences. Moreover, he extended an invitation to H.E. the President to attend the opening ceremony of the Delegation, scheduled for the end of next year.

For his part, H.E. the President expressed his gratitude for the warm reception and reiterated his full support for efforts to strengthen bilateral relations. He also voiced his hope that discussions between the two sides would continue, paving the way for broader prospects that further advance and support the educational, scientific, and cultural fields.

During the meeting, Dr. AlMalik presented President Azali Assoumani with a copy of ICESCO’s book Peace 360, for which he had written the foreword of its second edition. He also offered him a copy of a study prepared by the Organization on the Comorian kofia, in addition to a report on bilateral cooperation since 2019.

Following the meeting, President Azali Assoumani wrote a message in ICESCO’s Golden Guestbook.

On ICESCO’s side, the meeting was attended by Dr. Ahmed Said Bah, Advisor to the General Directorate; Mr. Adel Bouraoui, Advisor to the Director-General in charge of ICESCO’s external bodies in the field of the Arabic language; and Dr. Salim Al-Habsi, Director of the General Secretariat of National Commissions and Conferences.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) is taking part in the international conference “Yusif Mammadaliyev: Science, Heritage and Innovations,” organized by the Ministry of Science and Education of Azerbaijan in cooperation with the Azerbaijani National Academy of Science. The event, held on 4-5 December 2025 in Baku, Azerbaijan, commemorates the 120th anniversary of Azerbaijani academician Yusif Mammadaliyev, who made outstanding contributions to the development of the chemical industry globally. The conference brings together a high-level attendance, including senior officials, representatives of relevant international organizations, scientists, and experts.

In a recorded address shown during the opening session, ICESCO Director-General Dr. Salim M. AlMalik praised the strategic partnership between the Organization and Azerbaijan in education, science, and cultural development. Furthermore, he emphasized the key role that Mammadaliyev’s significant contributions in petrochemistry played in advancing scientific progress worldwide, stating that: “His legacy continues to elevate minds, inspire generations, and enrich humanity’s scientific journey.”

Moreover, Dr. AlMalik highlighted that the prosperity of nations stems from harmony between science and culture, intellect and spirit, progress and heritage. He also underscored ICESCO’s vision to foster creativity and innovation among youth in the Islamic world and to support scientific advancement in its Member States.

ICESCO is represented at the conference by a delegation including Mr. Anar Karimov, Head of the Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector, and Dr. Wissam Chehade, expert at the Science and Environment Sector, along with the participation of ICESCO’s Regional Office in Baku.

During a panel discussion on emerging challenges in chemical sciences, Mr. Karimov shed light on current issues in the chemical industry, the environment, and sustainable development, noting that Artificial Intelligence represents at once both a challenge and an opportunity for advancing modern sciences, particularly in enhancing scientific research accuracy. For his part, Dr. Chehade affirmed ICESCO’s steadfast commitment to promoting scientific research and building capacities that contribute to social and economic development.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Lebanese artist and musician Marcel Khalife at the Organization’s headquarters in Rabat.

During the meeting, held on Thursday, December 4, 2025, in the presence of Amb. Ali Daher, Ambassador of the Republic of Lebanon to the Kingdom of Morocco, Dr. AlMalik proposed the implementation of a joint art and cultural project between ICESCO and the renowned Lebanese artist, within the framework of the Organization’s openness to symbols of culture and creativity in the Arab and Islamic world.

The Director-General also highlighted the Organization’s main sectors and specialized centers, and reviewed the major cultural projects and initiatives it implements for the benefit of its Member States, with a view to promoting cultural presence, enhancing creativity, and safeguarding heritage. Likewise, Dr. AlMalik shed light on the quality certificates and international recognition that ICESCO has received in recent years.

For his part, Mr. Marcel Khalife commended ICESCO’s endeavors to promote culture and the arts and support creative artists, praising Dr. AlMalik’s distinguished efforts to serve culture in the Arab and Islamic worlds and entrench the values of dialogue, openness, and cultural diversity.

The meeting was attended by ICESCO’s Mr. Osama Heikal, Head of the Media and Communication Sector, and Dr. Mohamed Zinelabidine, Head of the Culture Sector.