Category: News

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences announce the opening of nominations for the fifth edition of ICESCO-Hamdan Prize for the Development of Educational Facilities in the Islamic World 2025 – 2026, which aims to stimulate voluntary initiatives and charitable work in the education sector, and support the development of educational infrastructure and facilities in the Islamic world.

The award carries a USD 300,000 prize value. It is granted to three winners from among charitable organizations, volunteer institutions, donors, and benefactors. Each winner receives USD 100,000, which must be invested either in developing the awarded project or in launching new educational initiatives that support educational facilities. In addition, winners receive a commemorative shield and an official certificate of recognition.

Nominations can be submitted either through self-nomination or nomination upon recommendation. Applicants must fill in and submit the application form, before 20 March 2026, in Arabic or English via the official online platform at the following link: (https://tahkeem.ha.ae/login.xhtml).

Following the initial screening process, eligible applications will be forwarded to an international jury, which will evaluate the submissions, select the winners, and approve the final results. The awardees will be honored at an official ceremony organized by the Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences, in collaboration with ICESCO.

For inquiries, applicants may contact the following email address: hamdan.icesco.prize@ha.ae
It is worth noting that this award was launched in 2017, with the support of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, may Allah rest his soul, as part of a partnership between ICESCO and the Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation.

Dr. Salim M. Al-Malik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Mr. Valéry Freland, Executive Director of the ALIPH Foundation, on Tuesday 30 September 2025, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to discuss avenues of cooperation between the two sides in the protection and preservation of heritage.

During the Meeting, ICESCO Director-General presented the Organization’s vision and strategic orientations, as well as its flagship programs and initiatives, particularly the activities of ICESCO’s Heritage Center and the role it plays in protecting heritage sites in Member States. He also highlighted ICESCO’s work to remove sites from international lists of endangered heritage, in addition to the registering 724 sites and elements on the ICESCO Islamic World Heritage Lists.

Both parties agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding in November to develop joint cooperation in the field of heritage protection and to strengthen international efforts in this area.

The ALIPH Foundation is an international, multi-stakeholder platform that brings together states, private-sector partners, and experts, with the aim of protecting endangered heritage worldwide and safeguarding cultural heritage. Its membership includes countries such as Saudi Arabia, France, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Morocco, Luxembourg, China, and Cyprus, with additional support from Switzerland and contributions from major international institutions and charitable organizations.

In observance of International Translation Day, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) released the following statement:

From the House of Wisdom to ICESCO: Translation as a bridge of civilization and a pillar for building the future.
The world commemorates International Translation Day each year on September 30 under the theme “Translation, Shaping a Future You Can Trust,” symbolically reminding us of the importance of this human act that has accompanied the progress of civilization and contributed to the exchange of knowledge among nations. In this context, ICESCO celebrates the occasion, emphasizing its commitment to enhancing translation and publishing efforts and building bridges of understanding among cultures through training programs and academic partnerships.

In this context, ICESCO links the resurgence of nations to the flourishing of translation movements. During the Abbasid era, the House of Wisdom stood as a pioneering model of how translation became a comprehensive civilizational project. The heritage of the Greeks, Persians, and Indians was translated into Arabic, then reproduced and enriched, making Arabic a language of science and global knowledge.

In line with this dynamic, ICESCO witnessed a qualitative leap last year with the establishment of the Translation and Publishing Center, designed to serve as an effective tool in supporting civilizational communication and disseminating the Organization’s cultural, educational, and scientific mission. The Organization also demonstrated its deep conviction of the role of translation in enhancing international peace and security by organizing, in partnership with Naif Arab University for Security Sciences, an international symposium titled “Translation and Security: The Role of Translation in Enhancing National and International Security,” held at its headquarters in Rabat on 2-3 July, 2025.
The Translation and Publishing Center is steadfast in its belief in the key role of translation across the sectors of education, scientific research, medicine, technology, and international cooperation, in light of the digital revolution, the rise of artificial intelligence, and the knowledge economy. With these advancements and developments, the challenge is no longer confined to the vast quantity of texts but now lies in the quality of translation and the translator’s awareness of the cognitive and intellectual dimensions of their work.
Moreover, the Center believes that translation transcends linguistic skills to serve a civilizational and humanitarian mission, holding a central place within the Organization’s strategy by:

1. Building capacities through specialized training programs that combine theoretical and practical aspects.
2. Diversifying translation fields to include precise sciences, modern technologies, as well as humanities and arts.
3. Enhancing international publishing to highlight the culture of the Islamic world on global platforms and consolidate its influential presence in the international intellectual arena. It also facilitates access to diverse human knowledge and contemporary global thought for researchers and readers in the Islamic world, thus enriching civilizational dialogue and fostering constructive cultural exchange among various civilizations.

On this occasion, Dr. Salim AlMalik, ICESCO Director General, stated, “Celebrating International Translation Day under the theme, “Translation, Shaping a Future You Can Trust” reflects our deep belief that translation is not merely a bridge between languages but a fundamental pillar for building a future based on trust, diversity, and openness. Through its Translation and Publishing Center, ICESCO continues to support translation as a civilizational mission that contributes to enhancing dialogue, peace, and understanding among peoples.”

The Organization avails itself of this international occasion to express its sincere gratitude and appreciation to translators everywhere who dedicate their lives’ work to building bridges of understanding and convergence among civilizations. ICESCO reaffirms that their efforts align with its 2026–2030 vision, which places knowledge, translation, and publishing at the core of building a prosperous future grounded in openness, diversity, and creativity.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), participated in the 2025 Cultural Investment Conference. The conference kicked off on Monday, 29 September 2025, at the King Fahd Cultural Centre in Riyadh, under the patronage of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, may God protect him. It was attended by His Royal Highness Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, Saudi Minister of Culture, alongside more than 150 speakers and 1,500 participants, including senior decision-makers and leaders in culture and investment at both national and international levels.

The conference aims to present culture as an attractive investment opportunity, showcase innovative financing models, build strategic partnerships, and develop new mechanisms that support creative industries and enhance the role of cultural capital in driving global economic growth. It also highlights the impact of cultural investment in empowering national talent, promoting justice and inclusion, and expanding cultural influence internationally through cultural diplomacy.

In his opening address, the Saudi Minister of Culture noted, “We are pleased to launch the first edition of the Cultural Investment Conference, which explores the future of cultural investment, its prospects, and its developmental potential,” highlighting that the Saudi cultural sector has undergone a historic transformation since the launch of Saudi Vision 2030, with increased contribution to GDP and the creation of new jobs, and emphasizing the private sector’s role as a strategic partner in the sector’s development.

In a statement, Dr. AlMalik emphasized that the objectives of this international event closely align with ICESCO’s vision and ambitious strategy, which positions culture as a key driver of sustainable development. He stressed that the Organization seeks to enable Member States to develop sustainable investment environments for creative industries, strengthen public-private partnerships, and support young talent and entrepreneurs in cultural fields.

Dr. AlMalik added that ICESCO, through its various initiatives and programs, works to promote cultural investment as a means to build a diversified creative economy and achieve comprehensive development, thereby enhancing intercultural dialogue and consolidating values of peace and understanding.

ICESCO’s participation in the 2025 Cultural Investment Conference reflects the Organization’s commitment to engaging in major international forums and contributing to the formulation of global policies in education, science, and creative culture, in line with its strategic objectives and service to its Member States.