Abu Dhabi, 16 September 2026 The Regional Office of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and Emirates Scholar Center for Research and Studies signed a…
Abu Dhabi, 16 September 2026
The Regional Office of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and Emirates Scholar Center for Research and Studies signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair. The agreement was signed on behalf of ICESCO by H.E. Salem Omar Salem, Director of the Organization’s Regional Office in Sharjah, and on behalf of Emirates Scholar by Dr. Firas Habbal, President of the Center and Member of its Board of Trustees.
The memorandum aims to strengthen cooperation between the two parties in the fields of scientific research and peer-reviewed academic publishing, facilitate the exchange of expertise and knowledge, and support researchers across ICESCO Member States, particularly young researchers. It also seeks to implement joint scientific and cultural initiatives that advance ICESCO’s mission of promoting intercultural dialogue and disseminating knowledge, while establishing a sustainable institutional partnership between the two organizations.
During the occasion, the two parties announced the launch of the International Journal of Islamic and Cultural Studies, marking the first outcome of this partnership. The journal will be published under the name of ICESCO and under its scientific supervision, while Emirates Scholar will be responsible for its establishment, registration, editorial and technical management, and international indexing.
The journal is a biannual peer-reviewed academic publication, with its inaugural issue scheduled for launch in November. Each issue will feature between 8 and 10 peer-reviewed research papers. The journal will publish original research across various areas of Islamic studies, including Islamic creed and thought, Islamic jurisprudence and its principles, Hadith and Quranic exegesis, history and civilization, Islamic economics, and intercultural dialogue. The journal will primarily be published in Arabic, while also accepting research papers in English and French, with abstracts provided in all three languages.
H.E. Salem Omar, Director of the Regional Office of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization – ICESCO – in Sharjah, expressed his pride in the collaboration with Emirates Scholar Center for Research and Studies in launching the International Journal of Islamic and Cultural Studies. He emphasized that the initiative represents an important step in supporting rigorous scientific research and establishing a specialized academic platform that contributes to the dissemination of knowledge and strengthens the presence of Islamic and cultural studies within regional and international academic communities.
His Excellency added that the launch of the journal is a tangible outcome of the scientific and knowledge-based cooperation between ICESCO and Emirates Scholar, reflecting both parties’ commitment to supporting researchers and providing an academic platform for publishing specialized research and studies in accordance with recognized academic standards. He further highlighted the importance of expanding the international reach of scientific output among researchers, institutions, and academic platforms.
He stressed that one of ICESCO’s key priorities is to promote scientific research, broaden cooperation with research centers, universities, and scientific institutions, and build effective knowledge partnerships that serve the fields of education, science, and culture. He noted that the journal represents a model of such partnerships through its focus on Islamic and cultural studies and their connection to contemporary intellectual and knowledge-related issues.
His Excellency also expressed his aspiration for the International Journal of Islamic and Cultural Studies to become an active academic platform that attracts researchers and experts from different countries, contributes high-quality research and studies, and promotes scientific dialogue and knowledge exchange, thereby strengthening the presence of Arab and Islamic scientific research and expanding its global reach.
For his part, Dr. Firas Habbal, President of Emirates Scholar Center for Research and Studies, expressed his pride in the partnership with ICESCO, affirming that it reflects the Center’s belief that rigorous knowledge serves as a bridge of communication between peoples and civilizations.
He explained that launching the International Journal of Islamic and Cultural Studies at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, a long-established cultural platform, reflects the UAE’s position as a global hub for knowledge and dialogue and embodies the vision of its wise leadership in supporting culture and scientific research.
Dr. Habbal noted that the Center will place its accumulated expertise in academic publishing and international indexing at the service of the journal, enabling it to become a trusted scientific platform that supports researchers from across the Islamic world, particularly young researchers, and provides them with opportunities to establish a presence within leading indexed academic publications.
He further stated that the journal will contribute to enriching the Islamic academic library with original research and support ICESCO’s mission of promoting awareness and strengthening the values of tolerance. He concluded by expressing his hope that the memorandum will mark the beginning of a productive journey of cooperation encompassing research projects, scientific conferences, and joint knowledge initiatives.
In conclusion, this partnership represents a significant step toward strengthening scientific and cultural cooperation between the two institutions. It aligns with the vision of the United Arab Emirates to support culture and knowledge, promote the values of tolerance that embody the message of Islam and the approach of the UAE’s wise leadership, and build a knowledge-based economy founded on innovation and scientific research.
The partnership also underscores the UAE’s leading role as a beacon of knowledge and intellectual thought. Both parties look forward to this memorandum serving as the beginning of a productive and expanding partnership encompassing research projects, scientific conferences, and joint knowledge initiatives that benefit researchers and academic institutions across the United Arab Emirates.
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