Salem al-Malik

Salem Mohammed al-Malik is a Saudi physician and author who has held the position of Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) since 2019. He also serves as the Secretary-General of the Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World. He previously worked as an advisor to the Minister of Education for health affairs in the Ministry of Education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and as a consultant in allergy and immunology at King Abdulaziz Medical City in the National Guard.

Salem al-Malik earned a master’s degree in management and health policies from Harvard University. He obtained an administrative fellowship for executive physicians and holds a diploma in medical management. He was accredited as a medical administrator by the American College of Physician Executives after receiving the required certifications.

He obtained both the Arab and American boards in pediatrics, in addition to the American board in allergy and immunology. He also earned a Canadian fellowship in allergy and immunology from the University of Manitoba.

Salem al-Malik has held various positions, including serving as an advisor and general supervisor of the General Administration for International Cooperation and Partnerships at the Ministry of Education. He also worked as an advisor to the Minister of Education for health affairs and held the position of Secretary-General of the National Committee for Education, Culture, and Science. Additionally, he worked as a consultant in allergy and immunology at King Abdulaziz Medical City in the National Guard.

He held the position of Head of the Knowledge Industries Sector at the General Investment Authority, as well as the leadership of the team responsible for developing the knowledge-based industry strategy. Before that, he worked in the National Guard Health Affairs in the central region as Deputy Executive Director of Medical Services, a role he held for nine years. During this period, he developed several curricula and strategies to enhance healthcare services. He also served as a part-time Assistant Professor at al-Faisal University.

He developed educational partnerships and adopted initiatives with global educational institutions and entities to create new channels within the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program. Additionally, he implemented twinning programs with several international universities and led negotiations resulting in over forty-five agreements between the Ministry of Education and its counterparts in other countries, as well as service contracts between local and international universities.

He is one of four Saudi professors selected to draft the foundational plan and initial concepts for King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. He also served as an advisor to this university, King Saud University, and Saudi Aramco. Additionally, he was a member of the committee tasked with developing the national system for creativity and innovation at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology.

He contributed to selecting members of international advisory boards for several Saudi universities and supervised the International Exhibition and Conference on Higher Education for several years. He also oversaw the Kingdom's participation in international book fairs across thirty-two countries and led the supervisory team when the Kingdom was the guest of honor at international book fairs in various countries.

Salem al-Malik authored several books, including Teaching Arabic to Non-Native Speakers, Scientific Chairs Abroad, Arabic Calligraphy, Insights into Higher Education in the Kingdom, Global Scientific Awards in the Kingdom, and Mirror of Days. He conducted training courses and workshops, delivered lectures at several local and international conferences, and supervised various conferences, including the Noor Forum (International Knowledge Forum) held in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah.

In 2023, Salem al-Malik received the Best Leader Award for 2023 from the Global Angel Investment Forum. This international award is presented annually by the forum to distinguished figures in leadership and foresight who have made notable contributions to modernizing education, science, and culture, driving positive changes to create economic opportunities, achieve social justice, and promote sustainable development. He also received the 2024 Mediterranean Honorary Award, granted by the United World Nations and the Mediterranean Foundation.

He was awarded several honorary degrees, including an honorary doctorate from Quaid-e-Azam University in Pakistan in 2023. He also received an honorary doctorate from Coventry University in the United Kingdom in 2020.