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Cairo, June 13, 2026. An international media event titled “Uzbekistan–Egypt: Dialogue of Civilizations and Islamic Heritage” was held at the Grand Egyptian Museum, the world’s largest museum complex located at the foot of the Pyramids of Giza. The event was dedicated to the presentation of the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan, one of the largest cultural, educational, and scientific projects of New Uzbekistan.

The event was organized by the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in the Arab Republic of Egypt, and the World Society for the Study, Preservation, and Popularization of the Cultural Legacy of Uzbekistan (WOSCU).

The media event became an important international platform for discussing the historical, cultural, and scientific ties between Uzbekistan and Egypt. As two great centers of Islamic civilization, both countries have made a significant contribution to the development of science, education, manuscript culture, and the arts.

The event opened with the screening of a special film about the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan, a project being implemented based on the authorial concept of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The film showcased the scale and unique vision of one of New Uzbekistan’s most ambitious cultural and educational initiatives.

Following the film presentation, Firdavs Abdukhalikov, Director of the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan and Chairman of the World Society for the Study, Preservation, and Popularization of the Cultural Legacy of Uzbekistan, delivered the keynote address. In his speech, he emphasized that Egypt and Uzbekistan are two great centers of human civilization and that the Nile Valley and Transoxiana have for centuries served as major hubs of science, culture, and spiritual development. He also highlighted that, thanks to the attention and support of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Uzbek-Egyptian relations are developing dynamically and entering a qualitatively new stage.

“Uzbekistan and Egypt are united by centuries-old traditions of science, enlightenment, and spirituality. Established at the initiative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the Islamic Civilization Center has today become a prestigious international platform for the study, preservation, and promotion of the rich heritage of the Islamic world. We are ready to expand broad international cooperation with Egypt’s scientific, educational, and cultural institutions in preserving and promoting our shared historical heritage”, said Firdavs Abdukhalikov.

As part of the program, a special documentary featuring Hollywood actor Ben Kingsley was screened. The film highlighted the invaluable contributions of the scholars, thinkers, and statesmen of Transoxiana to world civilization, science, and culture. A separate video presentation was also shown, dedicated to the centuries-old historical, cultural, and scientific ties between Uzbekistan and Egypt, as well as the modern stage of bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

The participants of the event were addressed with welcoming remarks by Bakhtiyor Saidov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan; Sherif Fathy, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities of the Arab Republic of Egypt; Gihan Zaki, former Minister of Culture of Egypt and Member of the House of Representatives; Ahmed Ghoneim, Chief Executive Officer of the Grand Egyptian Museum; as well as representatives of Al-Azhar, the international organization ICESCO, the Egyptian Ministry of Awqaf, and leading academic and museum institutions.

In their speeches, the speakers emphasized the special place of Uzbekistan and Egypt in the history of Islamic civilization and highlighted the centuries-old connections between the scholarly traditions of Transoxiana and Cairo. Particular attention was paid to the legacy of such great scholars as Imam Bukhari, Imam Tirmidhi, Imam Maturidi, Burhanuddin Marghinani, and Mahmud Zamakhshari. Their works have been studied for centuries at the leading educational centers of the Islamic world, including Al-Azhar.

In his address, Sherif Fathy, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities of the Arab Republic of Egypt, stated:

“Uzbekistan possesses an unparalleled civilizational heritage and holds a special place in the history of Islamic culture. I have had the privilege of visiting several of your country’s beautiful cities, and I look forward with great interest to the opportunity to visit the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan”.

One of the key highlights of the program was the exhibition “The cultural heritage of Uzbekistan – the heritage of all humanity”. The exhibition featured multi-volume book-albums published by the World Society for the Study, Preservation, and Popularization of the Cultural Legacy of Uzbekistan (WOSCU), facsimile editions of rare Islamic manuscripts, examples of Islamic art and Oriental miniature painting, as well as multimedia projects dedicated to the Uthman Mushaf and other outstanding monuments of the manuscript heritage of Transoxiana.

Another significant event was the ceremonial presentation to the Grand Egyptian Museum of the “Cultural heritage of Uzbekistan” book-album series published by WOSCU. During the ceremony, the museum’s leadership was presented with an official certificate confirming the inclusion of these publications in the scientific and educational collection of one of the world’s largest museum complexes.

Following the official program, interviews and bilateral meetings were held with the participation of representatives of government institutions, research centers, museum communities, and international organizations.

Special attention was also devoted to preparations for the First International Forum of Islamic Civilization, titled “Islamic Civilization: The Path of Peace, Tolerance, and Enlightenment”, which will be held in Uzbekistan on July 7–11, 2026. The leadership of the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan invited Egyptian scholars, researchers, museum professionals, and representatives of academic institutions to participate in the forum. The event is expected to become a prestigious international platform dedicated to discussing the preservation, study, and promotion of the heritage of the Islamic world.

The international presentation of the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan at the Grand Egyptian Museum marked another important step in the development of Uzbek-Egyptian cultural and humanitarian cooperation. It was also recognized as a vivid example of the successful implementation of New Uzbekistan’s cultural diplomacy policy aimed at preserving and promoting the world’s cultural heritage, strengthening dialogue among civilizations, and expanding international humanitarian cooperation.