FaceOf: John Duke Anthony, CEO of National Council on US-Arab Relations

Dr. John Duke Anthony
Updated 26 February 2019
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FaceOf: John Duke Anthony, CEO of National Council on US-Arab Relations

  • After the completion of his US Army active duty military service, Dr. Anthony enrolled at Virginia Military Institute (VMI), where he received his bachelor’s degree in history

Dr. John Duke Anthony is the founding president and chief executive officer of the National Council on US-Arab Relations (NCUSAR). 

Founded in 1983, the NCUSAR is an American nonprofit, nongovernmental, educational organization dedicated to improving American knowledge and understanding of the Arab world.

At a ceremony in Washington last week, Dr. Anthony awarded the secretary-general of the Muslim World League, Dr. Mohammed bin Abdul Karim Al-Issa, the World’s Religions Peace Award in recognition of his international efforts to promote peace. 

After the completion of his US Army active duty military service, Dr. Anthony enrolled at Virginia Military Institute (VMI), where he received his bachelor’s degree in history. He subsequently obtained a master’s degree in foreign service from the Edmund A. Walsh Graduate School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. Currently, he holds a Ph.D. in international relations and Middle East studies from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in Washington, D.C. 

In 1993, Dr. Anthony received the US Department of State’s Distinguished Visiting Lecturer Award, one of the three awarded over a span of a quarter century, in recognition of his preparation of American diplomatic and defense personnel assigned to the Arabian Peninsula and the Gulf states. In 2000, King Muhammad VI of Morocco knighted Dr. Anthony, bestowing upon him the Medal of the Order of Ouissam Alaouite, the country’s highest award for excellence. Dr. Anthony is also the only American to have been invited to each of the Gulf Cooperation Council’s  (GCC) ministerial and heads of state summits since the GCC’s inception in 1981. 

An accomplished author, he has also published more than 180 articles, essays, and monographs on a variety of topics related to the Arab world.


Crown prince sponsors launch of world-class Arabic calligraphy center in Madinah

Updated 23 December 2025
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Crown prince sponsors launch of world-class Arabic calligraphy center in Madinah

  • The Prince Mohammed bin Salman Global Center for Arabic Calligraphy was inaugurated by Prince Salman bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz

RIYADH: A new center for Arabic calligraphy under the patronage of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman officially opened in Madinah on Monday.

The Prince Mohammed bin Salman Global Center for Arabic Calligraphy was inaugurated by Prince Salman bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, governor of Madinah region.

He was joined by Culture Minister Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, touring the new facility’s exhibition spaces and receiving briefings on cultural programming and the center’s achievements.

They also viewed collections highlighting Arabic calligraphy’s artistic and historical importance.

Speaking at the opening, Prince Badr said: “From this land of enlightenment and scholarship, we proudly launch a global platform dedicated to Arabic calligraphy as an invaluable cultural asset.”

He went on to credit the crown prince’s “generous and boundless support” for the cultural sector.

The minister said that the center demonstrated to the world the legacy of Arabic calligraphy while underscoring Saudi Arabia’s commitment to safeguarding its cultural identity and heritage.

According to Prince Badr, the facility represents an ambitious vision to elevate Arabic calligraphy as both a universal communication tool and an integral element of Arab heritage, art, architecture and design.

The center further aims to enhance the Kingdom’s cultural identity and strengthen its international presence, targeting calligraphers, emerging talents, visual artists, Islamic arts researchers, educational and cultural institutions, as well as art and heritage enthusiasts worldwide.

It will deliver specialized programs including research and archival services, calligraphy instruction, academic grants, a permanent museum, touring exhibitions, an international calligraphy association and a business incubator supporting calligraphy enterprises.

Additional offerings feature artist residency programs, expert-led workshops, and standardized curriculum development, complemented by international educational partnerships aimed at heritage conservation and expanding global appreciation for this time-honored art form.

The center’s establishment in Madinah carries particular significance, given the city’s historical role as the cradle of Arabic calligraphy and its association with transcribing the Qur’an and preserving Islamic knowledge.