Former Egyptian tourism and antiquities minister Khaled El-Enany has been elected the new director-general of UNESCO, the United Nations’ cultural and education agency, succeeding France’s Audrey Azoulay.
El-Enany, 54, won 55 of 58 votes in a secret ballot by UNESCO’s executive board on Monday, defeating Édouard Firmin Matoko of the Republic of Congo, who received two votes. The United States, which has announced plans to withdraw from the agency, abstained.
His nomination will be submitted for formal approval by UNESCO’s 194 member states on November 6, a step considered largely procedural after Monday’s decisive result.
A new chapter for UNESCO
El-Enany’s election comes at a critical time for UNESCO, which faces the loss of roughly 8% of its budget once the U.S. exit takes effect at the end of 2026. The White House has accused the agency of supporting “woke, divisive cultural and social causes,” repeating language used during former President Donald Trump’s first withdrawal from the organisation.
Founded after World War Two to promote peace through international cooperation in education, science and culture, UNESCO is best known for protecting World Heritage Sites, from the Galápagos Islands to Timbuktu’s ancient tombs.
Outgoing chief Audrey Azoulay, who has served the maximum two terms, worked to diversify the agency’s funding base and restore confidence among major donors.
Egypt’s first UNESCO leader
El-Enany, who served as Egypt’s tourism and antiquities minister until 2022, had campaigned since April 2023, securing broad regional backing and international alliances. His appointment marks the first time an Egyptian will lead the Paris-based organisation.
“How come a country like Egypt, with its long history — with layers of Pharaonic, Greek, Roman, Coptic, Arab and Islamic civilisation — has not led this important organisation? This is not acceptable at all,” Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said last week in Paris.
At home, El-Enany has faced criticism from conservationists who accused him of failing to protect sensitive heritage sites in Cairo and the Sinai Peninsula.
As he prepares to take office, El-Enany inherits an agency at a crossroads — tasked with preserving the world’s cultural treasures while navigating deepening global political divides.
