Islamic Solidarity Games 2029 step forward
This week, a delegation from the Organising Committee visited Malaysia to coordinate the next phase with the country’s authorities and explore areas of cooperation to drive forward the seventh edition of the event.
The competitions will take place in Selangor in 2029, and the organisers intend to capitalise on the positive momentum generated by the sixth edition of the Games, which took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in November 2025.
Led by Secretary General Nasser Majali, the delegation from the Islamic Solidarity Sports Association held a series of official meetings and workshops with Malaysian stakeholders ahead of the next preparatory phase.
Meetings were held with Malaysia’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Dr Muhammad Taufiq Johari; the President of the Olympic Council of Malaysia, Dr Mohamad Norza Zakaria; and the Selangor State Minister for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneurship, Mohd Najwan bin Halimi.
Majali expressed his gratitude to the Olympic Council of Malaysia and the State of Selangor for their warm welcome, and reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to working with its partners to deliver an edition of the Islamic Solidarity Games that reflects the values of unity and solidarity among member countries. «We are very pleased to be in Malaysia and to witness first-hand the strong commitment and preparedness of our partners as we embark on our journey towards the 7th Islamic Solidarity Games in 2029. This visit is an important step in building a solid, collaborative foundation with all the involved stakeholders,» said Majali.
Meetings were held to address preparations and the roadmap for delivering the event, as well as future cooperation opportunities linked to ISSA programmes and initiatives aimed at strengthening collaboration between member countries. The ISSA also held a workshop with the Malaysia 2029 team, covering key areas related to Games planning and delivery, ISSA standards, governance and operational coordination.
The Games are a multi-sport event that brings together athletes from Islamic countries to compete in Olympic and Paralympic disciplines. However, their purpose is not only sporting; they also aim to promote cultural cooperation, unity, and solidarity among nations.
The first edition was held in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, in 2005, and the programme has included athletics, swimming, football, weightlifting, taekwondo, gymnastics, and combat sports. The official programme for the Malaysia 2029 edition has not yet been confirmed.
In the most recent edition, held in Riyadh, Türkiye topped the medal table and leads the all-time standings with 307 medals, according to cumulative records. Uzbekistan excelled in sports such as judo and weightlifting, while Azerbaijan performed particularly strongly in combat sports.





