ICESCO Honoured with Sharjah International Award for Cultural Heritage
The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation has received recognition for its distinguished work in safeguarding and promoting the cultural legacy of the Islamic world.
The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (ICESCO) has been bestowed the Sharjah International Award for Cultural Heritage in its sixth edition, acknowledging the organisation’s exemplary commitment to preserving the cultural patrimony of Islamic civilisation. The accolade was conferred through ICESCO’s Heritage Centre in the Islamic World within the category of Best Practices for Safeguarding of Cultural Heritage – Arab Category.
The recognition celebrates ICESCO’s sustained dedication to protecting, documenting and advancing cultural heritage whilst ensuring its transmission to successive generations. Through its Heritage Centre, the organisation implements specialised programmes and initiatives designed to study heritage elements, elevate awareness of their civilisational significance, and support member states in establishing enduring preservation mechanisms.
Salem Omar Salem, Director of ICESCO’s Regional Office in Sharjah, received the award on behalf of the organisation. He emphasised that the honour reflects international recognition of ICESCO’s commitment to safeguarding the Islamic world’s cultural foundations, encompassing identity, heritage, knowledge and values. This achievement, he noted, reinforces the organisation’s endeavour to strengthen these elements whilst enabling them to adapt to contemporary challenges.
The Sharjah International Award for Cultural Heritage represents a prestigious distinction honouring outstanding endeavours across three principal categories: Best Practices for Safeguarding of Cultural Heritage, Best Narrators and Bearers of Cultural Heritage (Living Human Treasures), and Best Research and Studies in Cultural Heritage. The award encompasses local, Arab and international classifications.
ICESCO’s work in heritage conservation extends beyond documentation and preservation. The organisation actively strengthens collaborative partnerships with cultural, research and academic institutions regionally and internationally, facilitating the exchange of expertise and knowledge. These partnerships enable the development of comprehensive initiatives utilising contemporary documentation and preservation technologies to ensure heritage remains accessible and vibrant for future generations.
Mr. Salem Omar expressed pride in the recognition, characterising it as validation of ICESCO’s expanding regional and international presence whilst serving as continued motivation to develop innovative programmes advancing heritage preservation across the Islamic world.
Source: WAM