A roundtable discussion was held on Sunday, 8 February 2026, at the Russian House in Jeddah to mark one hundred years since the establishment of Saudi–Russian relations. The session was attended by H.E. Rustam Minnikhanov, Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan of the Russian Federation, along with his accompanying delegation.
The discussion brought together Dr. Abdulaziz Khoja, former Saudi Minister of Information and the Kingdom’s first Ambassador to Russia, and Dr. Muhammad Al-Yami, Director-General of the Union of News Agencies of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (UNA).
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), also took part in the session. In his remarks, he highlighted the importance of Saudi–Russian relations and underscored their advanced model of international partnership built on mutual respect and shared interests.
The session reviewed the history of relations between the two countries. H.E. Rais Minnikhanov emphasized their deep historical roots and steady development across various fields. Dr. AlMalik also noted the distinguished status of the city of Kazan within the Islamic world, reflected in its designation as the Cultural Capital in the Islamic World for this year, highlighting its cultural, civilizational, and historical significance.
On Thursday, February 5, 2026, the training program, “AI Uses in News Writing and Targeted Media Content Production,” concluded its proceedings in the State of Kuwait. The five-day training program was organized by the Media and Communication Sector of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in partnership with the Media Development Center of the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), with the aim of honing the skills of 16 media professionals, journalists, and content creators from eight Member States and enabling them to employ the latest digital technologies in their fields of work.
The closing ceremony was organized at KUNA headquarters and sponsored by Kuwait Airways and Bukhamseen Holding Group. The ceremony featured presentations by participants on the practical activities they had prepared during the training days, notably AI-generated videos.
Afterwards, Dr. Barakat Al-Wegyan, Director of Communication at ICESCO’s Media and Communication Sector, stressed the importance of building young people’s capacities and providing them with the necessary tools to take full advantage of the opportunities offered by artificial intelligence. The ICESCO official also highlighted the Organization’s efforts to promote the use of artificial intelligence, modern technology, and innovation in Member States.
For his part, Mr. Thamer Al-Furaih, Head of the KUNA Media Development Center, stressed the need to entrench a forward-looking and sustainable development approach in training and research centers in the Islamic world, especially in the field of journalism and media, in order to keep pace with the latest developments and raise a creative generation that is aware of the ethics and values of employing artificial intelligence.
At the close of the ceremony, graduation certificates were presented to the participants for successfully completing the training program.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met on Thursday, 5 February 2026, with Dr. Mohammed bin Said Al Mamari, Oman’s Minister of Endowments and Religious Affairs, at the Ministry’s headquarters in Muscat. The two officials discussed prospects for establishing institutional cooperation in areas of shared interest.
The meeting included extensive discussions on cooperation in promoting civilizational values, strengthening the culture of dialogue and coexistence, and supporting educational and cultural programmes that contribute to human development, sustainable development, and respect for the cultural specificities of Islamic societies.
Dr. AlMalik reviewed ICESCO’s vision and strategic orientations aimed at positioning the Organization as a hub of civilizational and intellectual outreach, along with key programmes and initiatives implemented for the benefit of its Member States, particularly in the fields of civilizational dialogue, promoting the values of peace and coexistence, and conveying the true image of Islam.
The Director-General expressed his appreciation for the role of the Sultanate of Oman in supporting joint Islamic action and commended the Ministry’s efforts in religious and intellectual awareness. He reaffirmed ICESCO’s commitment to strengthening cooperation and developing programmes and projects that contribute to achieving the Organization’s strategic objectives and serving communities across the Islamic world.
For his part, Dr. Mohammed bin Said Al Mamari underscored the importance of international partnerships in advancing intellectual and civilizational initiatives, promoting moderate discourse, and supporting education- and knowledge-related causes. He also commended ICESCO’s role in safeguarding cultural heritage, encouraging diversity, empowering youth, supporting women, and fostering cohesive societies capable of addressing contemporary challenges.
The meeting was attended by Dr. Salim Al Habsi, Director of the General Secretariat of National Commissions and Conferences at ICESCO.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Sayyid Saeed bin Sultan Al Busaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth for Culture of the Sultanate of Oman. The two officials explored ways of strengthening cooperation between ICESCO and the Ministry in the field of supporting cultural and creative industries.
At the beginning of the meeting, held on Thursday, February 5, 2026, in Muscat, Dr. AlMalik commended the remarkable efforts made by the Ministry under the leadership of His Highness Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham Al Said, Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth. He also appreciated the Sultanate of Oman’s continued support for ICESCO’s programs and initiatives serving the Islamic world, particularly in the fields of knowledge dissemination, artificial intelligence, and heritage preservation and promotion.
Dr. AlMalik reiterated his call for the inscription of Oman’s rich and diverse heritage on ICESCO’s Islamic World Heritage List, emphasizing the Organization’s willingness, through its Islamic World Heritage Center, to cooperate and provide technical support in this regard.
Moreover, the meeting was an opportunity to discuss ways of supporting the Sultan Qaboos Library—may Allah rest his soul—located at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat, which houses a collection of rare books and manuscripts.
The meeting also saw the presence of Dr. Salim Al Habsi, Director of the General Secretariat for National Commissions and Conferences of ICESCO.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Sayyid Ibrahim bin Saeed Al Busaidi, Oman’s Minister of Heritage and Tourism, on Thursday, 5 February 2026, at the Ministry’s headquarters in Muscat. The meeting reviewed ways to strengthen cooperation in safeguarding tangible and intangible cultural heritage and implementing joint training programmes in this field.
At the outset, Dr. AlMalik presented ICESCO’s vision and strategic orientations, highlighting key programmes and initiatives implemented for the benefit of its Member States in the areas of preserving and promoting heritage as a repository of collective memory and a marker of civilizational identity. He noted that the Organization has successfully inscribed more than 724 sites and elements on the Islamic World Heritage List.
Dr. AlMalik emphasized that ICESCO is committed to employing advanced technological tools and enhancing the capacities of specialists working in the restoration and documentation of heritage across its Member States through pioneering programmes and initiatives. He stressed the importance of implementing bilateral training programmes in manuscript preservation and restoration, commending Oman’s institutional expertise in this domain.
The Director-General also highlighted Oman’s rich and diverse heritage, calling for the inscription of the greatest possible number of Omani heritage elements during the 13th Meeting of the Islamic World Heritage Committee, scheduled to be held from 9 to 13 February in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
For his part, Sayyid Ibrahim bin Saeed Al Busaidi expressed his aspiration to strengthen cooperation between ICESCO and the Ministry in support of national efforts to safeguard and preserve Omani heritage.
The meeting was attended by Dr. Salim Al Habsi, Director of the General Secretariat of National Commissions and Conferences at ICESCO, along with several heads of sectors at the Ministry.
On Wednesday, February 4, 2026, the International Conference on the Teaching Profession kicked off in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman. The Conference was co-organized by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), the Ministry of Education of the Sultanate of Oman, and the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States (ABEGS), under the theme “Sustainable Education in the Age of AI,” and saw the participation of ministers and education officials from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, as well as more than 400 experts, researchers, educators, and representatives of relevant international organizations.
During the opening session, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, stressed that the world today needs teachers who are well-versed in contemporary issues and proficient in the use of modern and advanced tools such as AI. He further emphasized that these technologies will never replace teachers, stating: “No matter how advanced artificial intelligence becomes, it will never replace teachers who understand their students, motivate them, and inspire them to be the leaders of tomorrow.”
Dr. AlMalik added that the desired synergy requires teachers who continuously develop themselves and adopt a culture of continuous training and learning, thereby improving classroom performance and enhancing the quality of educational outcomes.
Likewise, the Director-General stated that the Organization, which is in the process of finalizing its new program, “Civilizational Upbringing,” reaffirms its commitment to sustain coordination with partners to support an educational approach that preserves identity while promoting openness and humanity. He reiterated his gratitude to the Sultanate of Oman for hosting the Conference and supporting initiatives to improve education and the status of teachers.
For her part, Dr. Madiha bint Ahmed Al Shaibani, Minister of Education in the Sultanate of Oman, emphasized that the ministries of education in the Gulf countries have become leading models in digital transformation, educational innovation, and the development of resilient education systems. She added that advances in AI have not weakened the role of teachers, but rather redefined their role to become more profound and influential.
Dr. Mohammed bin Saud bin Abdulaziz Al-Moqbel, ABEGS Director-General, explained that the Conference aligns with the Bureau’s approach to sustainable education and maximizing the use of artificial intelligence technologies to improve the efficiency of educational systems. He stated that the Conference offers a platform for promoting field research and sharing inspiring experiences and expertise to support teachers’ professional development.
Following the opening session, Dr. AlMalik, along with ministers and senior officials, visited the educational exhibition held on the sidelines of the Conference.
The two-day Conference aims to discuss ways to develop learning environments and promote the integration of AI technologies and educational practices to ensure the quality of the educational process. It also aims to share Gulf and international experiences in teacher training and educational leadership, and support educational and administrative practices that promote sustainable development within the school environment.
The headquarters of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) in Rabat witnessed, on Monday, February 2, 2026, the inauguration of the art exhibition, “The Childhood & Life of Al-Farabi”, by renowned Kazakh artist and painter Zhanuzak Musapir. The exhibition was organized by ICESCO in partnership with the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the Kingdom of Morocco, with the aim of highlighting the legacy of the great Muslim philosopher and scholar Abi Nassr Al-Farabi through an artistic vision that casts light on his childhood, scholarly journey, and contributions to Islamic civilization.
The inauguration ceremony saw high-caliber participation, including several representatives of embassies accredited in Rabat and a host of world-renowned painters. In an address delivered on his behalf at the opening ceremony by Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, ICESCO Deputy Director-General, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, stated that the exhibition constitutes a new path of cultural cooperation between ICESCO and Kazakhstan and reflects the Organization’s recognition of the great role Al-Farabi played in shaping human thought as an encyclopedic reference known for his wisdom, vast knowledge, and avid interest in literature and music.
The Director-General also stated that, through this exhibition, Mr. Musapir uses his artistic acumen and sense of creativity to take visitors on a journey through the key moments of Al-Farabi’s life, thus contributing to safeguarding his legacy and transmitting his message to a wider audience.
For her part, Ms. Saulekul Sailaukyzy, Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Kingdom of Morocco and Kazakhstan Permanent Delegate to ICESCO, stated that the exhibition highlights the special partnership between the two parties and offers visitors a unique opportunity to explore Al-Farabi’s contributions to the development of thought in the Islamic world through art. She added that Mr. Musapir’s paintings add a spiritual dimension to Al-Farabi’s life and intellectual journey.
Speaking at the exhibition, Mr. Zhanuzak Musapir noted that he sought to explore, through his paintings, the philosophical, humanistic, and spiritual foundations of Al-Farabi’s teachings and highlight his timeless ideas. He also announced the gifting of all the paintings on display depicting Al-Farabi’s life to ICESCO, as a testament to the strong cultural ties between Kazakhstan and the Organization.
At the close of the ceremony, the National Academy of Arts of Kazakhstan presented certificates of appreciation to Dr. Salim M. AlMalik and a host of ICESCO leadership figures in recognition of their roles in celebrating intellectual figures and preserving human heritage for new generations.
The training program “Utilizing of AI Tools in News Writing and Quality Content Creation”, organized by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in partnership with the KUNA Media Development Center, kicked off on Sunday, February 1st, 2026, with the participation of 16 media professionals and content creators from eight Member States of the Organization.
The training program, sponsored by Kuwait Airways and Bukhamseen Holding Group – Crowne Plaza, aims to raise awareness of ways to employ artificial intelligence tools in news writing and digital content creation, foster ethics in the use of artificial intelligence in media and meaningful content creation, and develop participants’ skills in big data analysis through a series of lectures, panel discussions, and practical training sessions.
The five-day training program began with a lecture on the basics of artificial intelligence technology and its applications, presented by Mr. Abdulrahman Al-Khamis, director and expert in creative artificial intelligence, in which he reviewed the opportunities and challenges of mainstreaming the use of artificial intelligence in various professional fields.
At the end of the first day, Dr. Barakat Al Wegyan, Director of Communication Department at ICESCO’s Media and Communication Sector, stressed the need to hone young people’s skills to keep pace with rapid technological developments, given their pivotal role in renewing media work.
For his part, Mr. Thamer Al-Furaih, Head of the Kuna Media Development Center, pointed out the importance of developing cooperation between international organizations, institutions, and training centers to build a promising generation of media professionals in the Islamic world.
As part of the program’s activities, participants met with officials from the General Department of International Media of the Kuwaiti Ministry of Information. They reviewed the Ministry’s efforts to strengthen cooperation with countries from the Islamic world and mechanisms for communicating with media professionals and experts.
This is the second training program organized by ICESCO’s Media and Communication Sector for media professionals, content creators, and content creators in the Islamic world as part of the Sector’s strategic plan to enhance the capacities of media professionals to keep pace with media and technological developments.
The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) participated in the 8th International Arabic Language Conference entitled “Teaching and Learning Arabic: Looking Towards the Future: Requirements, Opportunities, and Challenges,” organized by the Arabic Language Educational Sharjah Centre for Gulf States (ALECGS), under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, and in cooperation with the UAE Ministry of Education.
The conference, held on 28-29 January 2026 at the Center’s headquarters in Sharjah University City, saw the participation of 118 researchers and experts from 24 countries and representatives of five international organizations, with 85 research papers and studies presented, and 20 outstanding practices were presented during 33 scientific sessions, which discussed issues, studies, best practices, and scientific and practical experiences related to the reality of teaching Arabic.
ICESCO was represented at the conference by Dr. Majdi Haji Ibrahim, Head of ICESCO’s Center of Arabic Language for Non-Native Speakers and Mr. Salem Omar Salem, Director of the Organization’s Regional Office in Sharjah. Dr. Majdi presented a scientific paper reviewing ICESCO’s key achievements and contributions in the field of Arabic language teaching and learning in line with its new forward-looking vision, leveraging all possible technological applications, methods, and techniques to disseminate Arabic across the world.
At the close of the symposium, Dr. Issa Al-Hammadi, Director of ALECGS, presented a shield of honor to Mr. Salem Omar Salem and Dr. Majdi Haj Ibrahim.
As part of the ICESCO Forum “Culture for Rethinking the World,” the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) launched a new series of dialogue sessions entitled “World Artists, Guests of ICESCO,” with the aim of harnessing artistic creativity in efforts to promote intercultural dialogue by hosting contemporary artistic figures who contribute to enriching cultural debate and affirming the status of art as a universal language for peace and coexistence.
Dr. Mohammed Zine El Abidine, Head of the Culture Sector at ICESCO, opened the first discussion session, held on Thursday, January 29, 2026, with a speech highlighting that this series is part of the forum’s vision to make culture a space for action and reflection, stressing that artists are not merely creators, but partners in producing meaning, transferring experiences, and promoting rapprochement between peoples.
After that, the discussion session kicked off, featuring two prominent figures from the international art scene via video conferencing, Amadi Lagha, a world-renowned opera singer, and Manuel Delgado, a Spanish flamenco guitarist and composer, who presented their experiences and artistic careers in an interactive discussion with participants.
During his presentation, Amadi Lagha reviewed his academic and artistic career, which took shape in Tunisia, France, and Italy, emphasizing the need to renew approaches to music education in order to give emerging artists greater freedom and scope for innovation.
For his part, Manuel Delgado highlighted his career, rooted in Andalusian heritage, which he shaped through his education in several European cities, considering that fidelity to artistic identity is not incompatible with openness and emphasizing that music has a unique ability to bridge cultures.
The session was moderated by Mr. Frédéric Jambu, expert in cultural diplomacy at ICESCO, who presented the general framework of the new concept and its objectives, highlighting the strategic role of art in renewing contemporary cultural dialogue and promoting understanding between peoples.
