[11] In November 2014, Ahmed Salim announced a partnership between UNESCO and 1001 Inventions to support the United Nations proclaimed International Year of Light 2015 as founding partners and the launch of a global campaign to celebrate the work of 11th century scientist Ibn Al-Haytham in optics.

The global campaign engaged more than 25 million people in 2015[13] In October 2018, Ahmed Salim announced a new partnership between UNESCO and 1001 Inventions to support the United Nations proclaimed International Year of the Periodic Table and Chemical Elements 2019.

1001 Paws co-ordinates 700 volunteers and rescuers to help deal with the rising populations of stray and abandoned cats and dogs in the Middle East and North Africa.

[35] In 2015, Ahmed Salim produced and directed a short feature film starring actor Omar Sharif on the story of 11th-century scientist Ibn Al-Haytham as he embarks upon a quest to uncover ancient mysteries.

[43] Together, they produced and released the music video 'Shine'[44][45] as part of the United Nations proclaimed 2015 International Year of Light.