Saudi Arabia hands ALECSO presidency to Oman, highlights achievements at 28th session

Saudi Arabia participated in the 28th session of the General Conference of the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO), held in Oman with the attendance of heads of delegations from member states.

The Kingdom was represented by Minister of Education and Deputy Chair of the Saudi National Committee for Education, Culture and Science, Yousef bin Abdullah Al-Benyan, on behalf of Minister of Culture Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, who also serves as Chair of the Saudi National Committee and President of the ALECSO General Conference.

In his address, Al-Benyan conveyed the Minister of Culture's greetings and appreciation to member states, and praised the ongoing support provided to the organization and to joint Arab action by King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Prime Minister.

He expressed Saudi Arabia's gratitude to Oman for hosting the conference, and thanked ALECSO, the executive council, and member states for their constructive cooperation during the Kingdom's presidency since 2024.

Al-Benyan noted that the conference convened amid sensitive regional circumstances, citing continued attacks by the Houthi militia on Saudi territory, vital facilities, and holy sites. He stressed the Kingdom's right to safeguard its security, sovereignty, and the safety of its citizens, emphasizing that the security of the Two Holy Mosques and their visitors is a non-negotiable priority.

He also valued the support of countries and organizations standing in solidarity with Saudi Arabia, affirming that the security and stability of Arab states is a shared responsibility.

Saudi Arabia's presidency achievements and initiatives

• Al-Benyan reviewed the Kingdom's achievements during its presidency, including the development of institutional work mechanisms across four main pillars: responding to shifting priorities, integrating governance and decision-making, enhancing operational efficiency, and managing performance, resources, and impact.
• Key accomplishments included drafting a new internal system for the General Conference, conducting the first evaluation of ALECSO's 2023–2028 plan, preparing the first staff training strategy (2027–2028), establishing a performance governance framework, creating a General Conference office, and forming specialized committees.
• For the first time, ALECSO allocated $500,000 over two years to support countries affected by crises, disasters, and emergencies. During Saudi Arabia's presidency, 25 proposals and initiatives from 11 countries were submitted.
• The Kingdom's support extended to education, scientific research, early childhood development, digital transformation, capacity building, literacy, and the advancement of educational assessment tools.
• Partnerships between ALECSO and the Ministry of Culture, through the Saudi National Committee, resulted in notable initiatives such as "Culture and the Green Future," the Unified Arabic Terminology Platform, the Kingdom's Heritage Award, and support for hosting the "Mondiacult 2029" conference.

Al-Benyan affirmed Saudi Arabia's aspiration to secure re-election to the UNESCO Executive Board (2027–2031), and its readiness to host the 11th World Water Forum in Riyadh in 2027.

In closing, the Minister of Education announced the handover of the ALECSO General Conference presidency to Oman, reaffirming the Kingdom's ongoing support for the organization and its commitment to advancing joint Arab action.