Monday, 25 May 2026
Egypt’s Khaled El-Anany elected Director-General of UNESCO
In a proud moment for Egypt on a day of national celebration, Khaled El-Anany has been elected as the new Director-General of UNESCO.
The announcement was made by Egypt’s Ambassador to France, Alaa Youssef, who shared the news on his official Facebook account on Monday.
Ambassador Youssef expressed his heartfelt congratulations, writing, “On this day of victory… a thousand congratulations to Egypt for winning the position of Director-General of UNESCO.”
Khaled El-Anany, who has previously served as Egypt’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, brings a wealth of experience in heritage, cultural preservation, and international cooperation. His election is seen as a testament to Egypt’s active role in global cultural dialogue and its commitment to promoting education, science, and cultural exchange through UNESCO.
The international community warmly welcomes Mr. El-Anany as he begins this distinguished role, looking forward to a new chapter of engagement and leadership within the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs extended heartfelt congratulations to President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and to the great Egyptian people on this momentous victory. The Foreign Ministry also expressed its warmest wishes to the peoples of the Arab and African worlds, celebrating the success of an Egyptian, Arab, and African candidate in attaining this distinguished international position.
Dr. El-Anany’s election marks a historic first: he is the first Egyptian and Arab, and only the second African, to serve as UNESCO’s Director-General. This remarkable milestone highlights the global standing and influence of Egyptian diplomacy, especially during this important period for the region and the world, under the leadership of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
Dr. El-Anany secured an unprecedented victory, receiving 55 out of 57 votes from the Executive Board of UNESCO—the highest number any candidate has ever earned in a competitive election for this position since the organization’s founding in 1945. This resounding endorsement reflects the deep trust of member states in Egyptian diplomacy, the outstanding credentials and vision of Dr. El-Anany, and his significant contributions to culture and heritage.
Today’s outcome is the culmination of an extensive and dedicated 30-month campaign led by Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and directed by President El-Sisi. The campaign, coordinated in partnership with Egypt’s Permanent Delegation to UNESCO in Paris, and supported by every sector of the Ministry and Egypt’s embassies abroad, sought to realize this historic achievement for Egypt—a nation renowned for its unique civilization. The victory adds to Egypt’s proud tradition of global leadership, following previous appointments of Egyptians to major positions such as UN Secretary-General, Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Director-General of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and Director-General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), among others.
Throughout the campaign, Egypt engaged with all member states of UNESCO’s Executive Board, building widespread support, securing Arab League and African Union endorsements, and undertaking diplomatic visits to 65 countries between June 2023 and September 2025. Efforts included high-level meetings with government officials and civil society representatives, as well as a strategic media outreach.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Badr Abdelatty, personally led Egypt’s delegation to the UNESCO Executive Board sessions, delivering a message of sincere congratulations to President El-Sisi, the Egyptian people, and Dr. El-Anany on this historic victory. Dr. Abdelatty highlighted the significance of Dr. El-Anany’s election as a celebration of the enduring cultural, intellectual, and civilizational contributions of Egypt, the Arab world, and Africa. He expressed deep appreciation to the Arab League, the African Union, and all countries that supported the Egyptian candidate.
Dr. Abdelatty also emphasized Egypt’s sense of responsibility following this great vote of confidence and called on all UNESCO member states to strengthen cooperation for a future that protects heritage, promotes scientific advancement, and fosters peace, coexistence, and tolerance among the world’s diverse civilizations.