At a time when Arab cultural institutions often struggle to maintain influence amid rapid global transformations, a few visionary leaders continue to prove that culture remains one of the Arab world’s strongest forms of soft power. Among them stands Mohamed Ould Amar, Director-General of The Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO), who succeeded within a single week in organizing two major high-level cultural events that carried profound Arab and international significance.
The first event was the awarding of the Arab Cultural Excellence Medal — for the first time in ALECSO’s history — to His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik Al Said, in recognition of a leader who transformed culture into a state project and knowledge into a civilizational vision open to the world. The ceremony was not merely symbolic; it represented a powerful Arab acknowledgment of Oman’s role in promoting tolerance, dialogue, heritage preservation, and cultural openness rooted in authentic Arab and Islamic values.
The second landmark event was ALECSO’s hosting of His Royal Highness Prince Turki Al-Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud for an honorary lecture on the mission of the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies in serving Arab culture. The lecture gathered intellectuals, diplomats, researchers, and Arab ambassadors in Tunis, highlighting the importance of preserving Arab identity while embracing modernity, research, digital innovation, and intercultural dialogue.
Prince Turki Al-Faisal emphasized that Arab manuscripts, heritage, and intellectual history are not relics of the past, but living testimonies to the Arab nation’s scientific and humanitarian contributions. He also stressed the need for Arab cultural institutions to work collectively toward a unified cultural project capable of strengthening the global standing of Arab culture.
What makes these two events remarkable is not only their symbolic and intellectual value, but the strategic vision behind them. Mohamed Ould Amar has demonstrated that ALECSO is no longer merely a traditional regional organization; it is becoming a dynamic platform for Arab cultural diplomacy and intellectual leadership.
Under his leadership, ALECSO has expanded its role in safeguarding Arab heritage, supporting the Arabic language, encouraging scientific research, and creating meaningful cultural partnerships across the Arab world and beyond. The organization has increasingly positioned itself as a meeting point for thought leaders, diplomats, scholars, and decision-makers who believe that culture remains essential to building peace, dialogue, and mutual understanding.
Bringing together, within one week, a historic tribute to Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and a prestigious intellectual gathering featuring Prince Turki Al-Faisal reflects exceptional organizational intelligence and cultural vision. It is a reminder that institutions are not measured by the quantity of their activities, but by the depth of the messages they deliver.
At a moment when the Arab world urgently needs a renewed cultural discourse capable of reconnecting younger generations with identity, knowledge, and openness, ALECSO — under the leadership of Mohamed Ould Amar — is proving itself to be a modern Arab house of wisdom and a true beacon of cultural diplomacy.
TunisianMonitorNews (Douha Essaafi)
