Category: Director General

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Dr. Khaled El-Enany, UNESCO Director-General, on Friday, 19 December 2025, at UNESCO headquarters in Paris.

During the meeting, the two parties agreed to further develop the partnership agreement signed between the two organizations, ushering in a new phase of cooperation and institutional synergy, and enhancing the impact of joint action in the fields of education, culture, and science at both the regional and international levels.

At the outset of the meeting, Dr. AlMalik extended his congratulations to Dr. El-Enany on assuming the position of UNESCO Director-General for the 2025–2029 term, expressing his aspiration to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two organizations in the coming period, in a manner that keeps pace with global transformations and serves the interests of the Member States.

Moreover, the Director-General underscored the importance of complementarity between ICESCO and UNESCO within their respective areas of expertise, and the key role of joint action in fulfilling the civilizational mission of international organizations, while enhancing their impact in supporting education, safeguarding culture, and advancing science.

The two parties agreed to update the partnership agreement to include new priority areas of cooperation, notably strategic foresight, artificial intelligence, and the preservation of endangered world heritage. The parties also agreed to organize joint programs and activities that reflect the complementary roles of both organizations.

The meeting was attended by Mr. Osama Heikal, Head of ICESCO’s Media and Communication Sector, and Ms. Somia Djakta, Head of the ICESCO Office to UNESCO.

Following the meeting, Dr. Khaled El-Enany hosted a luncheon in honor of the ICESCO Director-General and his accompanying delegation, marking their first visit to UNESCO Headquarters since he assumed his duties.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), participated in the International Forum on Peace and Trust, held on Friday, 12 December 2025, in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. The Forum was attended by heads of state and government, as well as leaders of international organizations and institutions, on the occasion of Turkmenistan’s celebration of the 30th anniversary of its status of permanent neutrality, the International Day of Neutrality, and the proclamation of 2025 as the “International Year of Peace and Trust.”

In his address to the Forum, Dr. AlMalik underscored the importance of trust as a fundamental moral value and a guiding force in an increasingly turbulent world, describing it as a “sacred trust” and a responsibility that links integrity to action, strengthens cooperation, and transforms intentions into lasting peace.

Furthermore, the Director-General reaffirmed ICESCO’s commitment to preparing a new generation of leaders in the Islamic world through its flagship programs in this field, including the Leadership Training in Peace and Security (LTIPS) program and the ICESCO Youth Peace Ambassadors Program, which aim to empower young leaders as the foundation of change for peace and for building the societies we aspire to.

The participation of the ICESCO Director-General in this international forum reflects the Organization’s steadfast approach to supporting and promoting the values of peace, coexistence, and civilizational dialogue, as well as encouraging international initiatives that seek to entrench a culture of dialogue and harmony among different peoples and societies.

The International Forum on Peace and Trust is increasingly cementing its standing as a prominent international platform for the exchange of views on ways to strengthen multilateral cooperation, consolidate mutual trust, and build effective partnerships that contribute to supporting regional and international security and stability.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), participated in the unveiling ceremony of the Neutrality Monument, which was erected in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, on Friday, 12 December 2025, in celebration of the International Day of Neutrality, observed annually on December 12th.

The ceremony was attended by a number of heads of states, leaders of international organizations, ministers, and dignitaries, including H.E. President Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation; H.E. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of the Republic of Türkiye; H.E. President Dr. Abdullatif Jamal Rashid, President of the Republic of Iraq; and H.E. President Masoud Pezeshkian, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in addition to the heads of Central Asian states.

Participating leaders and officials laid wreaths at the monument as an expression of appreciation for the values of neutrality and peace, and for the promotion of mutual understanding among nations.

Dr. AlMalik took part in the ceremony by laying a wreath on behalf of ICESCO, reaffirming the Organization’s commitment to supporting the principles of peace, dialogue, and coexistence, and to strengthening trust among peoples.

Commemorative photographs were also taken prior to the launch of the International Forum on Trust and Peace, which was held later that day in the city of Ashgabat, in conjunction with the celebration of the International Day of Neutrality.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), began an official visit to Turkmenistan on Thursday, 11 December 2025, to participate in international activities marking Turkmenistan’s 30th anniversary of permanent neutrality, International Day of Neutrality, and the declaration of 2025 as the International Year of Peace and Trust.

Dr. AlMalik commenced his visit to the capital, Ashgabat, by taking part in the flag-raising ceremony at the Neutrality Monument, in the presence of several heads of state and government, ministers, representatives of international organizations, and high-level guests.

Following that, Dr. AlMalik visited the Exhibition of Economic Achievements of Turkmenistan, which highlights the country’s economic and developmental progress, particularly in the sectors of transport, energy, and communications, and reflects its commitment to internationally recognized positive neutrality.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Mr. Emin Amrullayev, Minister of Science and Education of Azerbaijan, to discuss ways of strengthening strategic cooperation between ICESCO and Azerbaijan. The meeting also reviewed the outcomes of the international conference held in Baku to launch ICESCO’s Artificial Intelligence Index for the Islamic world, organized in collaboration with the Ministry and the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.

During the meeting, held on Tuesday, 9 December 2025, at the Ministry’s headquarters in Baku, Dr. AlMalik commended Azerbaijan’s commitment to promoting technology, innovation, and knowledge dissemination, and reaffirmed ICESCO’s readiness to expand joint initiatives aimed at supporting digital education and scientific research in Member States.

For his part, Mr. Amrullayev stressed the Ministry’s keenness to deepen cooperation with ICESCO in developing artificial intelligence policies, training teachers, and building youth capacities across Member States.

The meeting featured in-depth discussions on programs and initiatives jointly implemented for the benefit of the Islamic world, particularly in artificial intelligence technologies, as well as an overview of future action plans between both parties in this regard.

Attending the meeting on behalf of ICESCO were Mr. Anar Karimov, Head of Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector; Dr. Ahmed Said Ould Bah, Advisor to the Director-General; Dr. Abdulhakeem AlSenan, Director of ICESCO’s Regional Office in Baku; and Mr. Murad Aliyev, Expert at the Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector.

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.