Category: News

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in cooperation with Climate Finance Asia, has issued a comprehensive report entitled “Best Practice Financial Support and Standards for Small and Medium-Scale Renewable Energy Projects.” The report responds to the global commitment announced at the COP28 Conference in Dubai to double energy efficiency and triple renewable energy generation by 2030.

The document presents practical pathways for unlocking private investment, facilitating access to networks, and enhancing capacity-building, with the aim of launching small and medium-scale projects that are able to expand access to remote communities, diversify the energy mix, and stimulate local economies sustainably and inclusively.

The report includes five key recommendations, namely: setting ambitious national targets aligned with the outcomes of COP28 and integrating them into Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs); establishing stable and transparent policy and financing frameworks; as well as mobilizing green and Islamic financing instruments, including green finance and waqf investment, to mitigate investor risk.

The recommendations also call for regional unification of technical standards, training and accreditation programs, and the development of local expertise in project design and financing. Furthermore, they emphasize integrating energy efficiency by enhancing energy-saving measures and relying on small and medium-scale enterprises to create job opportunities and empower communities.

This publication marks the first in a series of initiatives that ICESCO plans to launch to support renewable energy projects in 53 Member States through professional training programs, local policy development, and platforms for knowledge exchange.

The report is available for free download via the following link on the official ICESCO website:
https://icesco.org/en/resources/publications-and-reports/#fin_best-practice-financial-support-and-standards-for-small-and-medium-scale-renewable-energy-projects/1/

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), took part in the annual ceremony of Naif Arab University for Security Sciences (NAUSS) and the graduation of its 43rd cohort, held on Monday, 3 November 2025, at the University’s headquarters in Riyadh, under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Interior and Chairman of the University’s Supreme Council.

The ceremony was attended by several high-ranking dignitaries and senior officials, as well as representatives of regional and international organizations, alongside a select group of academics and experts in the security fields. A total of 374 students from eleven Arab countries graduated from specialized academic programs that contribute to enhancing security and stability in Arab societies.

In his address during the ceremony, Dr. Abdulmajeed bin Abdullah Albanyan, President of NAUSS, emphasized that the patronage of H.H the Minister of Interior embodies the continuous support extended to the University by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the host country, under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and H.R.H Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (may Allah preserve them), thanks to which the University has attained a leading position at the Arab, regional, and international levels in the field of security sciences.

The participation of the ICESCO Director-General in this event reaffirms the close partnership between the Organization and NAUSS, and the keenness of both sides to strengthen cooperation in the fields of education, scientific research, and capacity-building, particularly at the intersection of security sciences, technology, and education, in a way that promotes human security and sustainable development in ICESCO Member States.

ICESCO, AOAD Discuss Ways to Strengthen the Use of AI in Agriculture

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Dr. Ibrahim Adam Ahmed Al Dukhairi, Director-General of the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development (AOAD), accompanied by Mr. Ahmed Salem Ould Ahmed, Director of Training, Studies and Consulting at AOAD, to explore ways of enhancing the use of emerging technologies in the agricultural sector in Member States.

During the meeting, Dr. AlMalik reviewed ICESCO’s key projects and initiatives to support agriculture, particularly the “Smarter Agriculture… A Better Future” initiative, implemented in partnership with the Islamic Organization for Food Security, and the regional workshop on smart agriculture held in Oyem, Gabonese Republic.

Dr. AlMalik reaffirmed the Organization’s commitment to promoting initiatives that use science and technology to develop agriculture, believing that providing farmers with access to smart tools, practical knowledge, and cutting-edge technologies is essential for achieving food security and sustainability. He also emphasized the importance of scientific research and innovation in developing agricultural practices, managing water resources, and adopting innovative financing solutions.

Mr. Al Dukhairi then reviewed the key elements of the new AOAD strategy (2022–2030), which aims to contribute to sustainable development in the region. He emphasized that his Organization had proposed a roadmap for using AI to achieve sustainable agricultural revitalization in the Arab region.

Attending the meeting were Mr. Osama Heikal, Head of the Media and Communication Sector; Mr. Anar Karimov, Head of the Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector; and Dr. Adel Smeda and Dr. Fahman Fathurrahman, experts at ICESCO’s Science and Environment Sector.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) hosted, at its headquarters in Rabat, on the evening of Saturday, 1 November 2025, a reception organized by the Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt in the Kingdom of Morocco to mark the official opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo.

The event, held at ICESCO’s headquarters, was attended by a distinguished audience that included ambassadors accredited to the Kingdom of Morocco, members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of international organizations, ICESCO staff members, and members of the Egyptian community in Morocco. From Khaimat Al-Khair, the Organization’s outdoor conference hall, they followed, via live broadcast, the grand opening ceremony of the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo and watched the presentation of its priceless collections, many of which were displayed to the public for the first time.

In his remarks prior to the live broadcast, His Excellency Ambassador Ahmed Nihad Abdel Latif, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the Kingdom of Morocco, expressed his sincere thanks and appreciation to ICESCO and its Director-General, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, for hosting the embassy’s reception and facilitating the live broadcast of the opening ceremony. He highlighted that ICESCO’s prominent role in the field of heritage makes it the most fitting venue for such an occasion.

Ambassador Abdel Latif described the Grand Egyptian Museum as a bridge connecting civilizations and linking the past, the present, and the future, noting that it is the largest museum in the world dedicated to a single civilization and emphasized that its cultural activities will promote knowledge as a foundation for progress, peace, and international cooperation.

The Grand Egyptian Museum, which was officially inaugurated in a global ceremony attended by numerous heads of state and government and representatives of international organizations, stands as one of the most significant cultural projects of the 21st century. It houses more than 100,000 artifacts spanning from prehistoric times to the Greco-Roman period, including the complete treasures of King Toutankhamon, the statue of Ramses II, and the solar boats. Overlooking the Pyramids of Giza, the museum’s location offers a breathtaking view that blends the grandeur of the past with the spirit of the present, making it a new beacon of Egyptian civilization for the world

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), sent a congratulatory cable to His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi immediately following the opening ceremony of the Grand Egyptian Museum. In his message, Dr. AlMalik expressed his great pride in this unique historic achievement, which reaffirms Egypt’s leading position in the fields of culture, civilization and human heritage.

He emphasized that the Grand Egyptian Museum is not only a source of pride for Egypt but also for the entire Islamic world and for humanity as a whole, as it embodies within its halls the depth and interconnectedness of human civilization across the Islamic world.

Dr. AlMalik noted that the museum’s magnificent design, along with its collection of rare archaeological treasures being displayed for the first time, makes it a universal beacon of civilization, especially as it is the largest museum in the world dedicated to a single civilization. He further highlighted that all its artifacts originate from the land of Egypt, with no items brought from abroad or taken unlawfully from other countries.

This, he stressed, is a source of immense pride, reflecting Egypt’s historic integrity and commitment to preserving its authentic national heritage, as well as its enduring civilizational strength and creative vitality. Dr. AlMalik added that the museum sends a clear message to the entire world that Egypt, the heart of history and the memory of humanity, continues to illuminate the path of humankind with civilization, knowledge, and beauty.

On this occasion, ICESCO, along with all its staff and personnel, extends its warmest congratulations and best wishes to the Arab Republic of Egypt and its great people on the official opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum, this global cultural landmark that embodies the genius of the Egyptian people and the depth of the civilization Egypt has contributed to the world over millennia.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) held its sixth workshop on the applications of artificial intelligence in cultural and creative industries “ICESCO Immersiv’Art” (IIA), under the theme “AI and Graphic Creation: The Case of Video Mapping.” The workshop took place at ICESCO Headquarters in Rabat as part of the Organization’s efforts to explore the growing intersection between modern technology and contemporary arts and to strengthen the presence of digital creativity within the cultural landscape of Member States.

The workshop, organized on 30 October 2025, opened with an address by Dr. Mohamed Zinelabidine, Head of ICESCO’s Culture Sector, who emphasized that digital creativity has become an essential tool for cultural transformation, contributing to the development of educational methods, artistic interaction, and heritage preservation in the digital age. He stressed that ICESCO attaches great importance to creating new spaces for dialogue among artists and experts in the fields of art and technology.

During the session, Elyes Rebaï, Creative Director at Designlab and Expert in Digital Technologies, gave a presentation on the potential of artificial intelligence techniques in video mapping, an innovative visual art form that transforms architectural facades into interactive spaces. He also addressed the technical, artistic, and ethical challenges associated with integrating artificial intelligence into graphic creation. The workshop featured insightful discussions among several cultural experts, including Mr. Mohamed Amine Hammami, Ms. Manuela Nicoletti, and Ms. Zineb Bougrine, who raised key questions about the concept of creativity in the era of artificial intelligence.