The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the Heydar Aliyev Foundation of the Republic of Azerbaijan are pleased to announce the launch of the ICESCO–Azerbaijan Natavan Heritage Excellence Award. The Award targets organizations, institutions, stakeholders, experts, and decision-makers active in the field of protecting and promoting cultural heritage.
With a total value of $130,000, the Award aims to honor outstanding contributions to the preservation, management, and promotion of cultural heritage in the Islamic world, while also highlighting flagship models in this regard.
The Award is divided into two categories:
The Projects Category, with an award of $100,000
The Individuals Category, with an award of $30,000
Submissions will be accepted starting today until October 30, 2025. Winners will be announced and awarded at a grand ceremony on April 18, 2026.
To learn about the eligibility criteria, timeline, and application procedures, please visit the following link: https://icesco.org/s80u
A scientific committee composed of five international experts in the field of cultural heritage preservation will review and evaluate the applications. The Committee will select one winner for each category and will also honor a selection of outstanding submissions.
It is worth noting that ICESCO and the Heydar Aliyev Foundation named the Award after Khurshidbanu Natavan, the renowned Azerbaijani poet and philosopher, who was also known for her dedication to cultural heritage preservation and played a significant role in restoring historical landmarks and supporting traditional Azerbaijani crafts. Natavan remains a symbol of resilience and cultural pride in her homeland.
The “ICESCO-Hamdan Bin Rashid International Caravan for Arabic in non-Arabic-speaking countries of West Africa” has arrived at its second stop, Conakry, Guinea, where its activities will take place from 30 June to 4 July 2025, at the headquarters of the National Institute for Pedagogical Research and Action (INRAP).
The opening ceremony was attended by the Minister of Pre-University Education and Literacy of the Republic of Guinea, Mr. Jean Paul Cedy, who, in his speech, commended the efforts exerted by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences in advancing Arabic language education and teacher training in African countries.
For his part, Mr. Kabiné Sangaré, ICESCO’s National Focal Point in Guinea, praised the leading role played by the Organization in supporting Arabic language teaching programs for non-Arabic speakers and in strengthening the Arab educational and cultural presence in Guinea.
The Caravan aims to develop the competencies of teachers in 20 Guinean schools specialized in teaching Arabic, in addition to a number of educators and media professionals working in Arabic-French educational institutions, through intensive training sessions in applied linguistics and classroom-based cultural activities, thereby contributing to improving the language skills of learners at various levels.
This initiative falls within a regional project aimed at enhancing the qualifications of Arabic language teachers and developing educational curricula for non-Arabic speakers, covering four West African countries: Benin (which was the Caravan’s first stop), Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, and Senegal.
This phase of the Caravan was supervised by Dr. Youssef Ismaili, Expert at ICESCO’s Center of Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers, alongside local expert Professor Mr. Sékou Habib Chérif.
His Excellency Syed Adil Gilani, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the Kingdom of Morocco, paid a courtesy visit to Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), at the Organization’s Headquarters in Rabat.
During the meeting, both sides discussed the strong and growing cooperation between ICESCO and Pakistan, particularly in the fields of science, technology, and innovation. They explored new opportunities to strengthen institutional partnerships and ensure that joint initiatives align with Pakistan’s national development priorities.
As part of the discussion with Ambassador Gilani’, Dr. AlMalik clarified that the Lifetime Achievement Award presented to His Excellency Prof. Ahsan Iqbal Chaudhary was granted by the Vice Chancellors Forum which was held at ICESCO headquarters on 23 June , under the auspices of the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan. The award recognized Prof. Iqbal’s distinguished contributions to the advancement of higher education, science, technology, and innovation.
At the conclusion of the meeting, both parties reaffirmed their mutual commitment to advancing educational, scientific, and cultural progress throughout the Islamic world and to further enhancing their collaborative efforts.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), delivered a series of inspiring messages to the youth of the Islamic world during the opening ceremony of “Marrakech, Capital of Islamic World Youth 2025.”
Dr. AlMalik emphasized that success is not defined by titles or positions, but by the impact one has on the lives of others. He urged young people to “walk steadily and with great humility, for the tree, when it bears fruit, bends down. If you fall, do not despair, for falling is not the end but a lesson to learn and a driving force for success.”
He also called on youth to remain rooted in their values and to cherish their homelands, reminding them that every achievement brings a smile to a mother’s face and reassurance to the heart of a nation that awaits the contributions of its children. He encouraged them to leave a lasting mark in life, likening the compassionate doctor and the dedicated engineer to those who create enduring human legacies.
Moreover, Dr. AlMalik stressed the importance of mastering future skills. “Those who prepare today will be among the builders of tomorrow, while those who lag behind may find no place for themselves in a fast-paced world that waits for no one. Learn the languages of tomorrow—coding, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity—and remember that learning is a lifelong journey.”
This message formed part of his address at the official launch of “Marrakech, Capital of Islamic World Youth 2025,” held on Monday, June 30, 2025, as part of the Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum. The event is held under the high patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may Allah assist him, and brings together around 200 young men and women from 48 countries.
Dr. AlMalik reaffirmed ICESCO’s strong belief in the vital role of youth in building prosperous futures for their nations and reviving the glory of Islamic civilization. He emphasized the need to trust young people and provide them with real spaces for creativity and innovation.
He also praised the tremendous efforts of the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication of the Kingdom of Morocco for bringing culture to life in every street and square of the country. He commended the unwavering support of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, who views youth as the nation’s greatest wealth and considers culture a bridge to development and peace.
In closing, Dr. AlMalik lauded Marrakech’s unique status and well-earned titles, calling it a capital of dreams, youth, and innovation. He noted that ICESCO had previously designated Marrakech as the Culture Capital in the Islamic World for 2024, a celebration marked by rich cultural and artistic programming that showcased the city’s vibrant heritage and civilizational diversity.
The International Conference on the Role of Customs Authorities in Combating Illicit Trafficking in Cultural Property, kicked off today, Monday, June 30, 2025, at the headquarters of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) in Rabat. Organized in collaboration with the Qatar National Library, the General Authority of Customs of Qatar, and Morocco’s Customs and Indirect Taxes Administration, the ICESCO Conference saw high-level participation including ministers, officials, and experts specializing in cultural heritage protection.
The conference aims to highlight the pivotal role of customs authorities in protecting cultural property, foster cooperation and coordination among customs agencies and relevant stakeholders, and exchange expertise and information. Over the course of six days, the Conference will feature a series of scientific sessions and panels focused on core skills for safeguarding cultural heritage, the use of customs tools and technologies in handling cultural property, as well as specialized training workshops on digital documentation techniques, temporary storage of seized cultural items, and the preparation of confiscation reports. During the opening session, Dr. AlMalik stressed the urgent need to intensify efforts to preserve cultural heritage, stating alarming statistics that reveal that over 80% of artifacts exhibited worldwide are either of unknown origin or have been looted. Dr. AlMalik stated, “Preserving cultural property means safeguarding the essence of a nation, protecting its memory, and preserving its identity amid the storms of change.”
Moreover, Dr. AlMalik highlighted the importance of cooperation among various international stakeholders and coordination between countries in the recovery of looted cultural property. He noted that ICESCO is developing a comprehensive strategy to combat illicit trafficking of cultural property across the Islamic world, which focuses on building expertise, linking databases, and leveraging artificial intelligence to monitor and track artifacts, thereby restricting their circulation in suspicious markets.
The opening session began with the recitation of verses from the Holy Quran, followed by an address by Mr. Abdellatif Ouahbi, Morocco’s Minister of Justice, who highlighted his country’s ongoing legislative efforts to combat illicit trafficking of cultural property, culminating in the enactment of a new law for the protection of cultural heritage. He also emphasized the critical importance of building the capacities of professionals working at key institutions to effectively address cross-border criminal activities.
For his part, Mr. Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, Morocco’s Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication, underscored the Kingdom’s strong commitment to cultural heritage, describing it as a living testament to human history. He explained that illicit trafficking networks exploit legal loopholes, political instability in certain countries, and advanced technologies to conduct their criminal operations. He also highlighted the urgent need to strengthen oversight of international art auctions to curb these activities.
The Director-General of Morocco’s Customs and Indirect Taxes Administration, Abdellatif Amrani, stressed, in an address read on his behalf by the Director of Prevention and Disputes, Mr. Chafik Essalouh, that the Customs Administration plays a crucial role in protecting cultural property by enforcing strict controls on the cross-border movement of such items and actively participating in international initiatives aimed at recovering looted artifacts.
Speaking next, Mr. Talal Abdullah Al Shaibi, Assistant Chairman for Customs Affairs at the Qatar Customs Authority, underscored the pivotal role of customs authorities in combating the smuggling and illicit trafficking of cultural property, stressing the vital importance of international cooperation among relevant institutions.
The Executive Director of Qatar National Library, Ms. Tan Huism, addressed the growing threats to cultural heritage, highlighting the important roles played by both the media and community members in preserving cultural heritage for future generations.
For his part Jamal Lakrimat, Superintendent General of General Directorate for National Security (DGSN) and General Directorate for Territorial Surveillance (DGST) of Morocco, reaffirmed the Directorate’s commitment to supporting international initiatives aimed at cutting off the sources of illicit trafficking in cultural property. He emphasized that this commitment is part of a security vision that integrates cultural considerations within policing efforts.
On Thursday, 26 June 2025, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Ms. Marielle Sander, Representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in the Kingdom of Morocco, to discuss the development of joint cooperation mechanisms in the field of social development.
The meeting, held at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat, focused on proposals for joint programs and projects aimed at empowering youth and women and equipping countries to benefit from the qualified demographic dividend as a strength of societies.
Discussions also included organizing conferences and seminars that articulate realistic visions for achieving sustainable development.
The meeting also addressed mechanisms for initiating the implementation of these initiatives in the Kingdom of Morocco as a first phase, then expanding them to other countries in the Islamic world, in accordance with the specific needs of each country.
In this context, Dr. AlMalik emphasized the great importance ICESCO places on empowering youth, considering them a fundamental pillar of development and progress and a tremendous human asset. He pointed out that ICESCO has made significant progress in this regard, stemming from its belief that youth are the source of creativity and innovation.
For her part, Ms. Sander presented the objectives and programs of the UNFPA in the Kingdom of Morocco, which aim to support families and advance the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by improving population well-being and enabling youth and women through economic and social empowerment.
At the conclusion of the meeting, both parties agreed to continue bilateral discussions to explore mechanisms for implementing joint programs and projects and to study the best ways to finance them.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Mr. Omar Sherif Abdoelrahman, Ambassador of the Republic of Suriname to the Kingdom of Morocco, on Thursday, June 26, 2025, at the Organization’s headquarters in Rabat. During the meeting, the two sides discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in the fields of civilizational dialogue and the promotion of the values of peace, diversity, and coexistence among young people in the Islamic world.
Both sides also stressed the importance of continued and direct communication between them, as well as the implementation of joint programs and initiatives in the educational, scientific, and cultural fields. In this vein, Dr. AlMalik reiterated ICESCO’s openness to learning more about Suriname’s priorities and needs in its fields of competence in order to design projects that meet those priorities.
The ICESCO Director-General also pointed out that building a strategic partnership with Suriname would provide a bridge to effective communication with the countries of the Islamic world and enable the implementation of joint programs with Member States in areas of common interest.
For his part, Mr. Abdoelrahman expressed his country’s willingness to cooperate with ICESCO and engage with the innovative initiatives and activities it offers to its Member States. He stressed the importance of supporting the diversity that characterizes the Islamic world and strengthening its unity, praising the Organization’s efforts in this field.
During the meeting, a number of suggested programs and projects were discussed, including the launch of two civilizational dialogue programs between Suriname and the Islamic world: “Exploring Paths to Understanding and Dialogue” and “Dialogue Between the Youth of Suriname and the Youth of the Islamic World.”
The Center of Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers at the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) has released the fourth series of specialized studies in the field of teaching Arabic to non-Arabic speakers. This release is part of the “Specialized Studies” project overseen by the Center.
The new series comprises ten peer-reviewed books authored by a select group of experts and specialists from nine countries: Qatar, Egypt, Thailand, Malaysia, Syria, Türkiye, Morocco, Jordan, and Germany. The publications address contemporary linguistic and educational topics such as assessment strategies, language games, heritage language, and the integration of scientific content into curricula, among others.
These publications aim to support scientific research in the field of Arabic language instruction for non-arabic speakers and align with global trends in curriculum development and educational tools.
The fourth series includes the following titles:
Integrating Nonverbal Communication in Teaching Arabic to Foreigners: “The Wise Understands the Gesture” – An Illustrated Guide for Practitioners.
Feedback Strategies in Arabic Language Teaching Programs for Non-Arabic Speakers: An Approach Toward Using Authentic Assessment.
Language Games: A Methodological and Practical Perspective.
Heritage Language: Concepts, Competencies, and Practices – The Case of Arabic in Germany.
Developing Educational Series in Light of the Reference Framework for Teaching Arabic to Non-Arabic Speakers: Authorship, Teaching, and Training – “Imta‘”.
Towards a Functional Curriculum for Teaching Arabic to Non-Arabic Speakers Working in the Media Sector.
Reading Comprehension in Teaching Arabic to Non-Arabic Speakers: Teaching Strategies and Testing Methods.
Vocabulary Learning Strategies among Arabic Language Learners: Theoretical Foundations and Practical Models.
Teaching Stories to Non-Arabic-Speaking Children.
Scientific Content in Arabic Language Curricula for Non-Arabic Speakers: Toward an Integrated Didactic Approach.
ICESCO offers these publications for free download on its website at the following link: https://icesco.org/vjxt
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), affirmed that the Organization is proud of the remarkable development in its relations with the Kingdom of Morocco over the past five years. This is clearly reflected in the activities, initiatives, and programs carried out in cooperation with relevant Moroccan bodies, totaling around 370, some of which received the high patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may Allah protect him.
Dr. AlMalik made these remarks during his address at the regular session of the General Assembly of the Moroccan National Commission for Education, Science and Culture, held on Wednesday, 25 June 2025, at the Centre des Formations et des Rencontres Nationales. The session was chaired by Mr. Mohamed Saad Berrada, Moroccan Minister of National Education, Pre-School and Sports, President of the Moroccan National Commission for Education, Science and Culture.
Moreover, the ICESCO Director-General presented an overview of the key activities implemented in partnership with Moroccan bodies, covering the fields of education, science, environment, culture, humanities, civilizational dialogue, and foresight. He noted that ICESCO’s hosting of numerous regional and international conferences in Morocco has contributed to establishing the Kingdom as a leading destination for global events and activities.
Dr. AlMalik highlighted that ICESCO established five academic chairs at several prestigious Moroccan universities and signed over 20 cooperation agreements with ministries and institutions involved in education, science, and culture. He also expressed pride in the growing presence of Moroccan professionals at ICESCO, which has significantly increased since 2019.
On Wednesday, June 25, 2025, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), held a virtual meeting with Mr. Miguel Ángel Moratinos, High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), to discuss arrangements for organizing a preparatory meeting aimed at coordinating the visions of ICESCO Member States ahead of the Global Forum of the Alliance of Civilizations, scheduled to be held in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia later this year.
During the meeting, Dr. AlMalik expressed his deep appreciation for the ongoing partnership between ICESCO and the UNAOC, emphasizing the importance of joint cooperation in implementing programs and initiatives that foster dialogue and intercultural coexistence, especially in light of growing global challenges.
The meeting addressed the necessary arrangements for holding the preparatory meeting, which will be hosted by the Republic of Tunisia in partnership with ICESCO and the UNAOC. The goal is to formulate a unified vision for the Islamic world on fundamental issues such as promoting peaceful coexistence, combating extremism, and supporting international peace and security, in preparation for presenting it at the Global Forum.
The two sides also discussed the most suitable timing for holding the meeting and the formation of a joint committee to handle financial and logistical aspects, in addition to ways to enhance the participation of Member States, thereby contributing to intensified efforts aimed at consolidating the values of peace, coexistence, and dialogue among civilizations.
