Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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November 6, 2025 Culture and education
The UNESCO General Conference elected Khaled El-Anani, a representative of Egypt, as the new Director-General of the Organization. He received 172 votes out of 179. The new Director-General will take office on November 15, replacing Audrey Azoulay, who has held the post since 2017.
Khaled Al-Anani is a professor of Egyptology at Helwan University, where he has taught for over thirty years. He has also served as Vice Dean of the Faculty of Tourism and Hotel Management, Director of the Open Learning Center, and Head of the Department of Tourism Leadership. Al-Anani holds a PhD in Egyptology from Paul Valéry University in Montpellier, France, where he has been a visiting professor on numerous occasions.
From 2014 to 2016, he headed the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, and from 2015 to 2016, the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. From 2016 to 2022, he served as Minister of Antiquities and then as Minister of Tourism and Antiquities of Egypt.
In November 2024, he was appointed as a Special Ambassador for Cultural Tourism by the World Tourism Organization and later became a Trustee of the African World Heritage Fund.
Khaled El-Anani will become the twelfth Director-General of UNESCO. He has been elected for a four-year term. El-Anani will be the first Director-General from an Arab country and the second from Africa to hold this post, following Amadou-Makhtar M'Bow of Senegal, who served as head of the Organization from 1974 to 1987.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) promotes peace and security by enhancing international cooperation in education, science, culture, communication, and information. UNESCO has 194 Member States. The organization coordinates a network of World Heritage sites, biosphere reserves, and global geoparks, creative, inclusive, and sustainable cities, more than 13,000 Associated Schools, university departments, educational and research institutions, and 200 National Commissions.
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