• Khaled El-Enany has been nominated as UNESCO’s next Director-General.
• This selection marks the first time an Arab candidate has reached this stage.
• El-Enany won the vote 55 to 2 against competitor Édouard Firmin Matoko.
• The nomination now awaits approval from UNESCO's General Conference in November.
• El-Enany aims to tackle funding challenges and enhance UNESCO's mission.

The United Nations’ cultural agency, UNESCO, has nominated Khaled El-Enany, Egypt's former minister of tourism and antiquities, as its next Director-General. His appointment would mark a historic moment as he would be the first Arab to lead the organization, replacing Audrey Azoulay, who has served since 2017. El-Enany’s nomination was backed by a significant vote of 55 to 2 against competitor Édouard Firmin Matoko from the Republic of Congo, and is awaiting ratification by UNESCO's General Conference set to convene in November 2025, according to TRTglobal, Africanews, Aljazeera, and India Times.

If confirmed in November, El-Enany will make history as the second African to lead UNESCO, with ambitions to restore ties with the United States, which has indicated it may formally withdraw from the organization by the end of 2026. The U.S. currently provides around 8% of UNESCO's budget, and its withdrawal would put additional financial strain on the agency, according to Africanews, Aljazeera, and India Times.

El-Enany’s experience includes significant projects aimed at reviving Egypt's tourism sector and safeguarding its archaeological heritage, such as the restoration of ancient sites and the establishment of new museums. During his tenure from 2016 to 2022, he oversaw efforts to balance tourism with cultural preservation, enhancing his reputation and garnering support from various Arab and African nations. He is expected to leverage this support to address UNESCO's pressing challenges, including securing funding and preserving cultural heritage amid global threats, according to TRTglobal, Aljazeera, and India Times.