The Kingdom believes in the importance of culture as an essential pillar in building societies

His Highness Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, Minister of Culture, stressed that the Kingdom believes in the importance of culture as an essential pillar in building societies and promoting national identity, and an engine for economic and social growth. From this standpoint, the Kingdom supports the organization’s efforts in enabling intellectuals and writers from Islamic countries by enhancing their presence In various cultural events, conferences, and research projects within the Kingdom.

This came during the opening of the Minister of Culture in the city of Jeddah, the thirteenth conference of the ministers of culture in the Islamic world 2025, under the slogan “The Impact of Culture on Social and Economic Development”, which the Kingdom will host in cooperation between the Ministry of Culture and the Islamic World Organization for Education, Science and Culture “ISESCO”.
The opening was attended by the President of the Republic of Tatarstan, Rustam Minikhanov, the Secretary -General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Hussein Ibrahim Taha, and the Director General of the Islamic World Organization for Education, Science and Culture “ISESCO” Dr. Salem bin Muhammad Al -Malik, and the ministers of culture in the countries of the Islamic world and heads of regional and international organizations.

Activating joint cultural work

In his opening speech, the Minister of Culture affirmed the Kingdom’s pride in chairing the thirteenth session of the Conference of Culture Ministers in the Islamic World, which aims to enhance joint cultural work and cooperation in empowering culture as one of the pillars supporting in achieving social and economic development.

He added: “The Kingdom expresses its appreciation for the cooperation of the member states to make this session a success, and the projects and initiatives that will be resulted from, looking forward to continuing to activate the joint cultural work.”
The Kingdom received the presidency of the thirteenth conference of the ministers of culture in the Islamic world 2025, and the conference then moved to its main topic “The Impact of Culture on Social and Economic Development” presented by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

ISESCO achievements in the cultural field

The first session dealt with the executive reports, which are the ISESCO report on its achievements in the cultural field, the report of the Heritage Committee in the Islamic world, and the report of the 19th meeting of the Consultative Council for Cultural Development.

The second session touched on the guidelines, which included the ISESCO Cultural Rights Initiative, the right to culture in the countries of the Islamic world, and an analytical document on the list of world heritage sites at risk in the Islamic world.
In addition to the documents submitted by the Kingdom, which included the Double Division of Bilateral Dictionaries in the countries of the Islamic world, the historical lexicon of Arabic calligraphy, and the document of promoting the recovery of cultural property in the Islamic world.

The work of the ministerial conference

This conference was preceded by the nineteenth meeting of the Consultative Council for Cultural Development, which emanates from the work of the conference, which is the most prominent international ministerial forum for the ministers of culture in the Islamic world.
This is to discuss documents related to the work of the ministerial conference, the adoption of the business schedule project, the timetable, and the formation of the conference office and its specialized devices.