Khaled El-Enany elected UNESCO director-general in historic win for Egypt
Updated 10/7/2025 8:35:00 AM
Arab Finance: The Executive Board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has overwhelmingly elected Egypt’s candidate Khaled El-Enany as the organization’s new Director-General, as per a statement.
The vote took place on Monday, October 6th, 2025, coinciding with the anniversary of Egypt’s October War victory.
El-Enany becomes the first Egyptian and Arab, and only the second African, to assume the position since UNESCO’s founding in 1945.
His election marks a milestone for Egyptian diplomacy and reflects the country’s growing international influence under the leadership and full support of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
Out of 57 member states on UNESCO’s Executive Council, 55 voted in favor of El-Enany, one of the highest vote counts ever recorded for the post.
The result underscores the international community’s confidence in Egypt’s candidate, his cultural and academic credentials, and his comprehensive vision for the organization’s future.
The outcome crowns a 30-month election campaign led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under President El-Sisi’s direction.
The campaign was coordinated through Egypt’s Permanent Delegation to UNESCO in Paris and supported by Egyptian embassies worldwide.
It involved consultations with member states, extensive diplomatic outreach, and securing endorsements from the League of Arab States and the African Union.
El-Enany, who previously served as Egypt’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, visited 65 countries between June 2023 and September 2025 to present his vision for UNESCO’s role in protecting heritage, promoting education, and advancing intercultural dialogue.
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