Paris — UNESCO’s Executive Board has officially nominated Khaled El-Enany of Egypt for the position of Director-General of the Organization, following a decisive vote.

The nomination will now advance to the General Conference, where all UNESCO Member States will cast their votes on 6 November in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. If confirmed, El-Enany will assume the role in mid-November, succeeding current Director-General Audrey Azoulay.

Born in 1971, Khaled Ahmed El-Enany Ali Ezz is a distinguished Egyptologist and Professor at Helwan University, where he has taught for over three decades. His academic leadership includes roles as Vice Dean of the Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality, Director of the Open Learning Center, and Head of the Tour Guide Department. He earned his PhD in Egyptology from Paul-Valéry Montpellier 3 University in France, where he has also served as a visiting professor.

El-Enany’s contributions to cultural heritage include directing both the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (2014–2016) and the Egyptian Museum in Cairo (2015–2016). From 2016 to 2022, he held ministerial posts in Egypt, first as Minister of Antiquities and later as Minister of Tourism and Antiquities.

His international recognition is reflected in his memberships in several scholarly societies and honors such as his appointment as Special Ambassador for Cultural Tourism by the World Tourism Organization in November 2024. He also serves as patron of the African World Heritage Fund. El-Enany is fluent in Arabic, French, and English.