Madina was officially announced Capital of Islamic Culture for 2013 by Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Majed, Emir of Madina Province, on Sunday. Dr. Abdul Aziz Khoja, Minister of Culture and Information, and various literary and cultural figures, were present at the event. Addressing the meeting, Prince Abdul Aziz said a Royal Decree last Hijri year had approved the minister's proposal for Madina. The city will also host the 8th session of the Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers, which has been approved by the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO). He said Madina was the appropriate city because of its “historical, cultural, economic, and social characteristics”. Madina is a “symbol of Muslim unity”, he added. Prince Abdul Aziz thanked Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, the Governor of Riyadh Province, who is also Chairman of the Board of Directors of the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Archives and Research and President of Madina Research and Studies Center. Khoja thanked the King for approving the initiative and expressed appreciation for the support provided by the Crown Prince and the Second Deputy Premier.
