The Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) hosted a grand official ceremony at its headquarters in Tunis, where it awarded the Arab Cultural Excellence Medal in its highest category to His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik Al Said, Sultan of the Sultanate of Oman.
The ceremony gathered a distinguished audience of Arab political, cultural, and educational figures, alongside ambassadors accredited to the Republic of Tunisia, including the Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to Tunisia, Dr. Abdulaziz bin Ali Al-Saqr.
The medal was received on behalf of His Majesty by the Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to Tunisia, H.E. Hilal bin Abdullah Al-Sanani, who expressed deep pride in this landmark recognition, describing it as a noble initiative by ALECSO, “the Arab house of expertise and a leading beacon of thought, education, culture, science, and knowledge.”
In his remarks, the Omani ambassador emphasized that this distinction reflects ALECSO’s profound appreciation of the pioneering role of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik in promoting culture not merely as a historical legacy, but as a fundamental pillar of sustainable development and scientific advancement.
He further highlighted that since the beginning of Oman’s renewed renaissance, His Majesty has consistently affirmed that culture and education are the driving forces behind national development. Oman Vision 2040, he noted, places the Omani citizen, identity, and intellectual development at the core of its developmental framework, while reinforcing the principle that openness to the world must be grounded in authentic Arab values and Oman’s deeply rooted Islamic heritage.
The ambassador added that this vision has positioned the Sultanate of Oman as a symbol of tolerance and a bridge for cultural dialogue and peace among nations. He also underscored the strong alignment between Oman’s cultural and educational approach and ALECSO’s mission of safeguarding Arab identity and promoting innovation and knowledge.
He further stressed that under the leadership of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, Oman has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to preserving both tangible and intangible heritage, advancing scientific research, supporting the Arabic language, and strengthening the principles of civilizational dialogue—values that lie at the very heart of ALECSO’s mandate.
He described the medal as a recognition of a long-standing journey of dedicated service to Arab culture and a message of support for initiatives that seek to transform culture into a bridge between peoples and a means of addressing contemporary challenges through knowledge and awareness.
For his part, ALECSO Director-General Dr. Mohamed Ould Amar stated that awarding the Arab Cultural Excellence Medal for the first time in the organization’s history to His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik represents a sincere Arab tribute to a leader who has elevated culture to a state project, knowledge to a civilizational vision, and identity to a human message open to the world.
He added that the cultural landscape of Oman clearly reflects the high level of attention given to heritage—both tangible and intangible—as well as to intellectual and artistic creativity, alongside the development of cultural and scientific institutions. This, he said, has significantly strengthened Oman’s standing regionally and internationally as a beacon of civilizational and humanistic influence.
The ceremony concluded with the screening of a short documentary film by ALECSO highlighting key milestones in the life and achievements of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik Al Said.
It is noteworthy that the Arab Cultural Excellence Medal is being awarded by ALECSO for the first time since its establishment, marking a historic moment in the organization’s cultural record.
TTunisianMonitorNews (Douha Essaafi)
