Category: News

Dr. Alsebail: ICESCO stands as influential voice representing Islamic world in culture, education, and science

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Dr. Abdulaziz Alsebail, Secretary-General of King Faisal Prize, on Thursday, December 25, 2025, at the Organization’s headquarters in Rabat. The meeting discussed prospects for cooperation between ICESCO and King Faisal Prize.

At the outset of the meeting, Dr. AlMalik reviewed ICESCO’s vision and strategic orientations, as well as its key programs and projects implemented across its Member States, particularly those aimed at promoting the values of peace, coexistence, and intercultural dialogue. He also shed light on a set of programs and reference documents adopted by the Organization to consolidate tolerance and dialogue within its Member States.

For his part, Dr. Alsebail commended ICESCO’s efforts, describing it as an influential voice serving the Islamic world in the fields of culture, education, and science, praising the Organization’s achievements in civilizational communication, foresight and artificial intelligence, media, and Arabic language.

Moreover, within the framework of strengthening their partnership, both sides discussed the organization of seminars and conferences aimed at advancing the noble objectives of ICESCO and King Faisal Prize in building peace and promoting global harmony.

The two parties also explored a proposal to launch an award and organize a film festival in the Islamic world, dedicated to works with significant cultural and educational impact, with a view to showcasing the diversity of Islamic cultures and fostering its civilizational narrative.

At the close of their visit, Dr. Alsebail and his accompanying delegation toured ICESCO’s Media and Communication Sector and the library of the Translation and Publishing Center, currently under construction.

The meeting was attended by several sector heads and center directors at ICESCO, along with Mr. Sami Abdullah Almaqlouth, laureate of King Faisal Prize for Service to Islam in 2025, and Mr. Abdulaziz Aldakhil, Director of Media and Information Technology at King Faisal Prize.

Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, received Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), at her office in Doha.

The meeting explored prospects for strategic cooperation in education, human development, and scientific research, with a particular focus on the ethics of artificial intelligence from an Islamic perspective and ways to employ it responsibly in education and cultural upbringing. Discussions emphasized the importance of leveraging AI to strengthen human values, preserve identity, and keep pace with rapid transformations in the knowledge economy.

Dr. AlMalik presented ICESCO’s renewed vision and implementation strategy, underscoring the need to integrate the Arabic language and Islamic culture into AI ecosystems and enhance their intellectual and ethical presence in digital models and smart learning platforms.

Her Highness, a global thought leader and a central figure in human development, affirmed that artificial intelligence represents a historic opportunity if grounded in solid ethical principles and a comprehensive human vision. She stressed that education and scientific research form the cornerstone for anticipating and shaping the future. She also highlighted the eminent status of the Arabic language and the importance of promoting it, noting that the completion of the Doha Historical Dictionary of Arabic marks a new milestone in advancing the language and reinforcing its scientific and cultural presence.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Dr. AlMalik expressed his deep appreciation to Her Highness for her pioneering role in making education a lever for human development and a bridge to the future. He extended an invitation to Qatar Foundation to visit ICESCO headquarters to discuss ways to deepen cooperation and translate shared visions into impactful, sustainable programs.

The meeting was attended by Engineer Saad bin Ebrahim Al Muhannadi, Head of the Office of the Chairperson of Qatar Foundation; Dr. Ahmad Hasnah, President of Hamad Bin Khalifa University; and Ms. Abeer Al Khalifa, Head of Pre-University Education at Qatar Foundation.

In conjunction with the finals of the 2025 African Cup of Nations, currently hosted by the Kingdom of Morocco, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in partnership with the Moroccan Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), held a conference on Monday, December 22, 2025, at its headquarters in Rabat under the theme “Leveraging Sport for Youth and Women Inclusion and Sustainable Development.” The event saw the participation of ministers, academics, and experts in the fields of youth and sports.

The conference explored ways sports can contribute to strengthening social and economic inclusion, support mental health and well-being, and stimulate new ideas in sports to serve the Sustainable Development Goals and effect real impact on those most in need.

In his opening remarks on behalf of Dr. Salim AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General (DG), Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Deputy DG, noted that the conference aligns with the Organization’s strategy to develop a sports model founded on collective action, institutional collaboration, innovation, and sustainability with the aim of amplifying the social impact of sports, positioning it as a catalyst for youth empowerment and women’s advancement, while reinforcing the principles of citizenship and solidarity.

Ms. Ramata Almamie Mbay, Head of ICESCO’s Social and Human Sciences Sector, presented the Organization’s renewed vision, which considers sport a lever for social inclusion, a driver of economic development, and a promoter of social cohesion.

In her turn, Ms. Khady Diène Gaye, Minister of Youth and Sports of Senegal, confirmed that her country has decided to prioritize sports as a central component of youth-centered public policies. She highlighted Senegal’s active involvement in a process of systemic transformation within the “Senegal 2050” Agenda.

Mr. Abdelrahman Ajbari, Head of the Division of Youth Institutions at the Moroccan Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication, stated that sport in Morocco has become a significant catalyst for development, contributing to the enhancement of governance, training, and infrastructure modernization in the Kingdom. Ms. Laura Bill, UNICEF Representative in Morocco, underscored the pivotal role of sports in fostering inclusion and catalyzing sustainability and innovation.

In a recorded speech, Ms. Kanizat Ibrahim, Former CAF Vice-President and current member of the FIFA Council, underscored the potential of football to promote youth inclusion, women’s empowerment, and community cohesion. She emphasized the importance of sustainable partnerships and programs that can translate this approach into tangible results.

The conference featured two panel discussions. The first focused on sport, social and economic inclusion, and its role in youth employment. The second centered on sport, well-being, social cohesion, and sustainability. The conference concluded with a speech by Ms. Kenza Abourmane, Director of Youth at the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication of the Kingdom of Morocco.

Under the patronage and presence of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), participated in the ceremony celebrating the completion of the Doha Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language. The event took place on Monday, December 22nd, 2025, in Doha, Qatar, with high-level attendance including ministers, representatives of regional and international organizations, heads of language academies, members of the Dictionary’s scientific council, and experts and researchers.

In his remarks during the ceremony, Dr. AlMalik emphasized that ICESCO is fully committed to supporting the Dictionary, positioning itself as a gateway for this pioneering project to the Arab and Islamic world through a long-term strategic partnership. He noted that the Dictionary holds a unique distinction and excellence, meeting aspirations while anticipating future opportunities and challenges.

The ICESCO DG praised the patronage of H.H the Amir of Qatar for the dictionary project, which began 13 years ago and involved a select group of experts from across the Arab world. He stated: “The Doha Dictionary is the first of its kind to comprehensively document Arabic words and their meanings.”

Dr. AlMalik explained that the Dictionary, which includes more than 300,000 entries, represents a unique resource for scholars, students, and researchers. He affirmed that its completion is a milestone in the advancement of knowledge, and reflects the region’s ability to produce civilizational projects with global impact. He concluded his remarks by reciting a poem he composed for the occasion.

The ceremony also featured remarks by Ms. Lolwah bint Rashid bin Mohammed Al Khater, Qatari Minister of Education and Higher Education; Dr. Azzeddine Bouchikhi, Executive Director of the Doha Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language; Dr. Azmi Bishara, DG of the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies; and Dr. Mahmoud Al-Sayed, Head of the Arabic Language Academy in Damascus.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, H.H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani honored the experts, researchers, and editors who worked on completing the Dictionary project across its various stages.

The Doha Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language was launched in 2013 by the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies in Qatar. The project includes a textual corpus of approximately one billion words. The Dictionary uniquely documents the evolution of Arabic words from their earliest appearances in inscriptions and texts, tracing changes in their forms and meanings within textual contexts and following the language’s chronological development.