The Directorate General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) organized a celebratory day dedicated to traditional national attire in its Member States, in an initiative reflecting pride in cultural heritage and shared civilizational identity. The event featured a wide variety of traditional garments in a vivid display that showcased the richness and diversity of cultural heritage across the Islamic world and highlighted the historical, symbolic, and aesthetic significance embodied in national dress.
During the celebration, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of ICESCO, emphasized that this initiative reflects the richness of cultural diversity in the Islamic world and underscores the important place occupied by traditional attire as a component of national identity and a means of expressing the distinctive civilizational characteristics of peoples.
Dr. AlMalik noted that over the past six years, the Organization has worked to attract the largest possible number of qualified professionals from its Member States, and that ICESCO’s staff now represent more than 40 countries from within and beyond the Islamic world, which was visibly reflected in this celebration.
ICESCO has designated Friday of every week as National Dress Day, with the aim of strengthening pride in cultural identity and showcasing the civilizational diversity that characterizes its Member States.
Through such initiatives, ICESCO remains committed to safeguarding tangible and intangible cultural heritage and promoting awareness of its importance in reinforcing a sense of belonging and pride in identity, in line with its mission to support cultural diversity and encourage civilizational dialogue among Member States.
The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) held an international online training workshop titled “New Policies for Cultural Professions and Employability” as part of the series “ICESCO: Leadership in New Cultural Policies 2021–2029,” with the participation of over 160 experts, researchers, and representatives of cultural institutions and National Commissions from 22 countries. Opening the workshop, held on Thursday 11 June 2026, Dr. Mohamed Zinelabidine, Head of the Culture Sector at ICESCO, stressed that culture has become a key driver of development, innovation, and societal transformation. He emphasized the need to integrate the cultural dimension into the development policies of Member States and to strengthen the position of cultural identity as one of the principal foundations for building balanced and sustainable societies.
For his part, Mr. Anar Karimov, Head of the Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector at ICESCO, who moderated the session, explained that the development of cultural policies remains dependent on the availability of accurate data and specialized studies. He noted that the absence of reliable indicators limits the ability to demonstrate the true contribution of culture to economic, social, and civilizational development.
During the workshop’s keynote presentation, Dr. Rim Jellouli, ICESCO external expert specializing in cultural policies and sustainable development, presented the outcomes and tools of the ICESCO 2025 Strategy on Cultural Professions and Employability. The Strategy is structured around three main pillars: a framework for sustainable and innovative cultural and creative economies, the ICESCO Reference Framework for Cultural Professions and Competencies, and a roadmap toward 2030 aimed at supporting Member States in developing information systems dedicated to cultural employment.
Dr. Jellouli further explained that cultural and creative industries contribute, on average, 3.1% of gross domestic product (GDP), although with significant variation among countries. She also noted that 43% of ICESCO Member States have not yet adopted reliable indicators related to cultural employment, underscoring the need to develop modern measurement tools that support the integration of culture into development planning priorities.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received on Friday, 12 June 2026, at the Organization’s headquarters in Rabat, Dr. Ahmed Abdullah Zayed, Director of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, in the presence of Ambassador Ahmed Nihad Abdel Latif, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the Kingdom of Morocco. The two sides discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in publishing, the preservation of Islamic and human heritage, the conservation and restoration of manuscripts, and the development of cultural and knowledge-based projects.
At the outset of the meeting, Dr. AlMalik reviewed ICESCO’s most prominent programs and initiatives in education, science, and culture, highlighting the Organization’s efforts to protect heritage, promote the cultural economy, and support knowledge production. He also touched on the Sultan Qaboos Library project, recently inaugurated at ICESCO headquarters, affirming that libraries are no longer merely spaces for storing books, but have become vital institutions for knowledge production and cultural dissemination.
Dr. AlMalik stressed the importance of benefiting from the extensive expertise accumulated by the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in documentation, digital preservation, and the management of heritage collections, emphasizing the need to build strategic partnerships between the two institutions to strengthen the presence of Islamic and human heritage and make it accessible to future generations and researchers worldwide.
For his part, Dr. Ahmed Abdullah Zayed presented an overview of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina’s main projects, including the initiative to summarize 1,000 books and encyclopedias to bring knowledge closer to young people and facilitate access to its content. He also reviewed the awards and programs launched by the library in recent years to promote a culture of reading and scientific research, noting that the library holds more than one million books, over 600 original historical manuscripts, and around 21,000 digitized manuscripts, and receives approximately three thousand visitors daily.
The meeting also discussed several practical proposals for cooperation, including launching a joint project to revive Islamic and human heritage through the restoration of manuscripts and rare books, as well as translating historical, intellectual, and Islamic works into several languages. It was also proposed to establish a joint reading award aimed at encouraging young people to read and strengthening a culture of knowledge.
The meeting was attended on the ICESCO side by Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Deputy Director-General; Mr. Osama Heikal, Head of the Media and Communication Sector; Dr. Ahmed Albanyan, Director of the Translation and Publishing Center; Dr. Sally Mabrouk, Head of the Director-General’s Office and Supervisor of the Strategy and Institutional Excellence Sector; and Ambassador Khalid Fathalrahman, Director of the Center for Civilizational Dialogue.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), held a coordination meeting with Dr. Firdavs Abdukhalikov, Director of the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan (ICCU), to discuss the final arrangements for organizing the international scientific conference “Al-Jami‘ Al-Musnad Al-Sahih of Imam Al-Bukhari: The Book of a Nation” and the international conference “The Great Heritage of the Past: A Foundation for an Enlightened Future,” scheduled to take place in the cities of Tashkent and Samarkand from 7 to 10 July 2026, under the patronage of His Excellency President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
During the meeting, held virtually on Friday, 12 June 2026, Dr. AlMalik reaffirmed ICESCO’s commitment to ensuring the success of both conferences and securing the participation of the largest possible number of ministers, senior officials, leading scholars, muftis, researchers, and representatives of religious institutions across the Islamic world. He noted that organizing these scientific conferences in partnership with the ICCU forms part of joint efforts aimed at highlighting the scientific and intellectual contributions of Islamic civilization, which have enriched human civilization and contributed to its advancement.
The Director-General of ICESCO also praised the level of bilateral relations between the Organization and Uzbekistan in recent years and referred to his planned participation in the International Maqam Art Festival, scheduled to be held at the end of the current month in Namangan, Uzbekistan.
For his part, Dr. Firdavs Abdukhalikov commended ICESCO’s contributions within its fields of competence and noted the special appreciation the Organization enjoys from His Excellency President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. He affirmed the Center’s commitment to mobilizing all necessary resources to ensure the success of both conferences, which represent an important milestone in the development of bilateral relations.
The meeting was attended on behalf of ICESCO by Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Deputy Director-General; Mr. Anar Karimov, Head of the Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector; and Ambassador Khalid Fathalrahman, Director of the Center for Civilizational Dialogue.
The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) has released a new book titled “Emerging Trends in Teaching Arabic language to Speakers of Arabic and Non-Arabic Speakers.” The launch took place on Thursday, 11 June 2026, at the Sultan Qaboos Library at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat, in the presence of Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of ICESCO, along with a number of the Organization’s leaders, experts, intellectuals, and specialists interested in promoting the international standing of the Arabic Language.
In his address at the event, Dr. AlMalik highlighted the Arabic Language’s pivotal role as a core component of the culture of Member States, a bridge for communication among their peoples, and a vessel for the Islamic world’s civilizational heritage and sciences. He noted that ICESCO attaches great importance to the Arabic language, which led to the establishment of its Center of Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers in 2020. The Center has launched since its establishment diverse programs worldwide, and its efforts have been recognized with three international awards.
Dr. Abdelillah Benarafa, ICESCO’s Deputy Director-General, commended the book and its topics, which bring together the expertise of several specialists in Arabic language fields. He affirmed that scientific publishing at ICESCO follows rigorous academic standards.
For his part, Dr. Ahmed Albanyan, Director of Translation and Publishing Center at ICESCO, announced the launch of the “ICESCO Arabic Language Pavilion” next month, a joint initiative between the Translation and Publishing Center and the Center of Arabic Language for Non-Arabic Speakers.
Dr. Majdi Hajj Ibrahim, Head of the Arabic Language Center for Non-Arabic Speakers at ICESCO, explained that the Center has recently issued five scientific series in the field of Arabic language teaching and launched a research excellence program in Arabic language and literature, through which three books have been published.
In a statement by the representative of the Regional Center for Education and Training Professions of Casablanca-Settat in Morocco, Dr. Miloud Othmani praised the scientific cooperation with ICESCO to support educational and academic efforts in Arabic language teaching. Dr. Ata Allah El Azami, Secretary-General of the Maghreb Association for the Protection of the Arabic Language, also commended the publication, noting that it took a full year of writing, peer review, revision, and publication.
The book is a collective work comprising 13 peer-reviewed studies by researchers from seven countries. It addresses various topics related to strategies for teaching and learning Arabic and the challenges faced in the context of digital and interactive education. It also offers key proposals that provide an integrated vision for modernizing Arabic language teaching, combining global, digital, and conceptual innovation, leading to institutional renewal in schools, universities, and specialized Arabic language teaching centers.
The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) launched a new measurement tool aimed at supporting cultural and creative industries in its Member States during a training workshop entitled “ICESCO Index for Cultural and Creative Technologies.” The workshop was held in a hybrid format at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat, with over 190 participants from 23 countries, including researchers, experts, representatives of National Commissions, Ministries of Culture, and creative institutions.
In his opening remarks at the workshop, attended by Ms. Raja Youssefi, Chargé d’Affaires at the Embassy of Tunisia in Rabat, Dr. Mohamed Zinelabidine, Head of the Culture Sector at ICESCO, stressed that cultural and creative technologies have become a strategic driver of sustainable development and innovation. He emphasized the importance of developing reliable indicators to support the formulation of data-driven cultural policies and noted that the launch of the index forms part of the series “ICESCO: Leadership in New Cultural Policies 2021–2029.”
Subsequently, Ms. Saloua Abdelkhalek, Director-General of the International Tunisian Center for Digital Cultural Economy, delivered a presentation on the Center’s role in supporting innovative initiatives in cultural and creative industries, highlighting the growing impact of digital tools in advancing cultural ecosystems across the Islamic world.
For his part, Dr. Mohamed Amine Hammami, artist and international expert in digital creativity and digital culture, presented the structure of the new index, explaining that it is built around 47 indicators distributed across nine pillars: digital innovation, skills, infrastructure, the market, regulatory framework, audience engagement, sustainability, data and artificial intelligence, as well as cooperation and partnerships.
The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in cooperation with the Naif Arab University for Security Sciences (NAUSS), held a panel discussion titled: “Employing Artificial Intelligence Tools in Managing Security-Related Media Crises and Their Societal Impact” on Wednesday, 10 June 2026, in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The event was organized as part of the scientific forum “The Role of Media Security in Enhancing Societal Security,” with the aim of strengthening media security as a fundamental pillar of comprehensive national and societal security through addressing the challenges of the modern digital environment and promoting integration among the media, security, and technology sectors.
Dr. Barakat Al-Wegyan, Head of the Communication Division at ICESCO’s Media and Communication Sector, reviewed the Organization’s and the Sector’s efforts to enhance media and digital literacy and build the capacities of institutions and individuals through their training programs and specialized initiatives, thereby contributing to the promotion of media security and the fight against misinformation.
He also highlighted the impact of AI on transforming the nature of media crises and the consequent need to develop mechanisms for monitoring, verification, and rapid response in order to curb the spread of disinformation and safeguard public awareness.
Mr. Khalid Alshammari, Director of Strategic Communications and Media at the Pilgrim Experience Program, addressed the role of security media and the use of AI tools in organizing the Hajj season. He emphasized the importance of strategic communication in supporting crowd management, building trust, and delivering media messages that keep pace with field requirements.
For his part, Mr. Hadi Alfakeeh, expert in strategic communication and former leader within the Saudi Vision 2030 ecosystem, explained that successful media crisis management requires integration between technical and communication dimensions. He stressed the importance of preparedness and the development of flexible communication strategies capable of responding to the rapidly evolving digital environment.
The session concluded with an open discussion during which participants’ questions were addressed and views were exchanged on the topics covered by the panel.
The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) participated in the InnoXera International EdTech Summit 2026, organized by Classera under the theme “Education Without Borders: Keeping Learning Through Crisis” as a strategic partner. The summit aimed to explore solutions to the challenges facing education systems during times of crisis, promote the use of artificial intelligence in education, and prepare teachers and students for the schools of the future.
Representing ICESCO at the summit, held virtually on Tuesday, 9 June 2026, was Dr. Ahmed Albanyan, Supervisor of the Education Sector and Director of the Translation and Publishing Center at ICESCO. In his address, he stressed the need to develop flexible education systems capable of responding to emerging challenges, emphasizing the importance of transforming the sector through the adoption of inclusive approaches, the integration of modern technologies, the strengthening of teachers’ capacities, and the promotion of international cooperation and strategic partnerships both within and beyond the Islamic world.
The event brought together officials, experts in education and emerging technologies, and entrepreneurs to discuss ways and mechanisms to ensure the continuity of education during crises and accelerate digital transformation in the sector. Furthermore, the various participants addressed the importance of raising awareness of best practices for enhancing the quality of education and strengthening human capital skills.
The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) held the International Conference on Families and Public Policies on Tuesday, 9 June 2026, at its headquarters in Rabat, under the theme “Supporting Social Transformations in the Islamic World,” in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Rabat. The conference brought together a distinguished group of international experts, researchers, and specialists to examine contemporary transformations affecting the family and to explore ways to develop more effective and context-appropriate family public policies, within an approach that takes into account the cultural and social specificities of countries of the Islamic world.
In his opening address, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of ICESCO, stressed that investment in families should not be viewed solely as a social commitment, but as a fundamental prerequisite for achieving sustainable development, strengthening social cohesion, and enhancing economic resilience. He underlined that ICESCO attaches particular importance to family-related issues as part of its mission to advance development across its Member States.
In a recorded address, Mrs. Marielle Sander, Representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Rabat, explained that the family remains at the heart of every society as a space for protection, solidarity, and human development. She noted that progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals requires family-centered policies that are closely aligned with inclusion, equality, and inclusive opportunities for youth.
For his part, Mr. Ahmadou Moustapha Ndiaye, World Bank Country Director for the Maghreb and Malta, highlighted that the family constitutes the foundation for building nations’ human capital. He presented selected statistics related to the conference theme in the Middle East and North Africa region, noting that 70 percent of children aged ten are unable to read, representing the highest learning poverty rate globally. He also pointed out that more than 30 percent of youth are NEET, while 40 percent of women face exclusion, a situation that casts negative repercussions on family well-being.
Dr. Falilat Ajoke, Director of the Social Affairs and Family Affairs Department at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, emphasized the need to exchange expertise and strengthen coordination among Member States to address the shared challenges facing families in the Islamic world.
Mrs. Kawtar Manssouri, Director of Childhood and Women’s Affairs, Department of Youth, Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, Kingdom of Morocco, considered that the challenges confronting families in the Islamic world call for enhanced coordination and the exchange of successful experiences among countries, contributing to the formulation of more sustainable family policies.
Subsequently, Mr. Salim Omar Salim, Director of the ICESCO Regional Office in Sharjah, affirmed that the Islamic world is witnessing profound demographic, economic, social, and digital transformations that raise fundamental questions regarding privacy and family security. He then announced the launch of the Regional Family Forum in Sharjah by the end of the current year.
In the closing session, Dr. Yousra Bint Hussain AlJazairy, Chair of the Cultural Committee of The Group of Spouses of Arab Ambassadors and Heads of International Organizations accredited to the Kingdom of Morocco, affirmed that the family is both the source and the producer of human capital capable of contributing to community building. She stressed the necessity of involving families in the formulation of public policies, as they are the primary stakeholders affected by the outcomes and impacts of these policies.
The conference featured two panel discussions on “Families in the Islamic World through the Lens of Policymakers and Researchers” and “Families in the Age of Digital Transformation: Artificial Intelligence, Economic Globalization, and Demographic Changes,” with the participation of leading experts and researchers. This initiative aims to contribute to the development of practical recommendations supporting the advancement of family public policies in countries of the Islamic world.
The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) held a webinar entitled “World Music, Living Heritage, and Intercultural Dialogue: Introducing the International Institute for World Music”, with the participation of more than 40 experts and representatives of international cultural institutions. The event aimed to highlight the role of music in fostering intercultural dialogue, safeguarding living heritage, and opening new horizons for international cultural cooperation. The webinar, held on Thursday 5 June 2026, as part of the ICESCO International Network of Civil Society Organizations for Culture and Development project, was moderated by Ms. Somia Djacta, Head of the ICESCO Office to UNESCO. In her remarks, she emphasized the importance of this initiative in strengthening ties among cultural stakeholders and underscoring the status of musical heritage as a universal language shared by humanity.
In his opening address, Dr. Mohamed Zinelabidine, Head of the Culture Sector at ICESCO, stressed that world music serves as a bridge of understanding among peoples and an effective tool for promoting a culture of peace that’s rooted in cultural diversity and mutual respect. He noted that openness to diverse artistic expressions constitutes a key driver for enhancing intercultural dialogue.
Subsequently, Ms. Margaret Dechenaux, Founder and Director of the International Institute for World Music, delivered a presentation on the Institute’s experience, explaining that it currently offers 17 certificate training tracks and organizes more than 40 major international masterclasses annually. She also expressed the Institute’s interest in developing joint projects with ICESCO in the fields of training and the promotion of intangible cultural heritage.
For his part, Dr. Hyung Suk Moon, Honorary President of the Institute, highlighted the importance of cultural diplomacy in bringing peoples closer together. He reviewed a number of international experiences and pointed to promising opportunities for cooperation in the fields of cultural and creative industries and heritage digitization.
Meanwhile, Mr. Frédéric Jambu, Coordinator of the ICESCO International Network of Civil Society Organizations for Culture and Development and an expert in cultural diplomacy, presented the objectives of the international platform, explaining that it seeks to support partnerships, facilitate the exchange of expertise, and implement joint projects among civil society organizations. Mr. Lotfi Ben Salah, President of the Riadh Al-Sunbati Club for Arab Music Association in Tunisia, also highlighted his association’s initiatives aimed at preserving, documenting, and promoting Arab musical heritage.
The webinar concluded with a reaffirmation of the importance of cultural openness as a catalyst for mutual enrichment and of the need to continue building effective partnerships among international and local cultural civil society organizations, thereby creating new opportunities for cooperation between ICESCO and the International Institute for World Music.
