The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences have announced the launch of the fifth edition of the Hamdan–ICESCO Award for the Development of Educational Facilities in the Islamic World.
This Award is a leading joint initiative that recognises and supports efforts to enhance learning environments across the Islamic world, promoting the sustainability and quality of educational infrastructure.
Dr. Khalifa Al Suwaidi, Executive Director of the Foundation, said, “We are proud to partner with ICESCO in advancing our shared goals of supporting education in the Islamic world through this Award and through the programmes of the Hamdan–ICESCO Fund. This partnership embodies the Foundation’s vision and mission to elevate education to new horizons of excellence and innovation, grounded in the firm belief that education is the cornerstone of comprehensive development in the Islamic world and the pivotal driver of human development and future-making.
Through close cooperation with ICESCO, we seek to foster a culture of institutional development and collective community action, and to encourage high-impact initiatives that make a tangible difference in the quality and sustainability of education. We view the development of educational facilities not merely as an infrastructure upgrade, but as a strategic investment in future generations – one that empowers communities, strengthens their capacity for creativity and innovation, and builds a brighter future for the Islamic world.”
Applications will open in October 2025, with introductory workshops on the Award scheduled from November 2025 to March 2026. The application period closes on 20th March 2026. Judging will take place in April and May 2026, with winners announced in June 2026, followed by the official awards ceremony later in the year.
The Hamdan–ICESCO Award was launched in 2017 under the patronage of the late Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum to support ICESCO’s efforts to recognise and motivate those engaged in voluntary and philanthropic initiatives in education. The Award encourages volunteer-driven projects to develop and build educational facilities and aims to strengthen educational infrastructure across the Islamic world, targeting charitable organisations, voluntary institutions, donors, and philanthropists.
Applications can be submitted directly or via nomination in Arabic, English, or French through the official electronic system by 20th March 2026.
Eligible submissions will be evaluated by an international judging committee, which will select the winners and approve the final results. The honourees will be celebrated at an official ceremony organised by the Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences in cooperation with ICESCO.
The Award highlights the commitment of both institutions to fostering partnership and cooperation in education by encouraging individuals and organisations to create safe, stimulating educational environments that align with global developments and support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in education.
(Inputs from WAM)
