In His First Interview After Winning the Post of UNESCO Director-General, Dr. Khaled El-Enany Speaks to Al-Bawaba

“My victory is a global vote of confidence in Egypt’s vision and its ability to lead an organization like UNESCO.”

A Historic Moment

On the sixth of October — Egypt’s Victory Day — Dr. Khaled El-Enany achieved a historic triumph by winning the post of Director-General of UNESCO, becoming the first Egyptian and Arab to hold this prestigious position.

His sweeping victory, with 55 votes out of 57, marked the highest result ever recorded in UNESCO elections, crowning more than thirty months of intense diplomatic work led by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the direct guidance of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.

Dr. El-Enany’s win reflects a national vision: Egypt’s candidacy was not a mere political contest but a comprehensive national project meant to reaffirm Egypt’s cultural leadership and its centuries-old contribution to human civilization.

A Journey Rooted in Knowledge and Heritage

From his early academic years at Helwan University, Dr. El-Enany combined scholarship with passion. Since 1993, he has devoted his life to Egyptology, inspiring generations of students.

His tenure as Minister of Antiquities (2016) and later Minister of Tourism and Antiquities (2019) reflected a unique synthesis of science and practice — reviving Egypt’s cultural image through initiatives that linked heritage to sustainable development and cultural diplomacy.

For him, heritage is not the past on display; it is a living present, and tourism is not luxury, but dialogue among civilizations.

“We Worked for a Cause, Not a Title”

Q: Did you expect this unprecedented victory with 55 votes?

El-Enany: I always believed that sincere work never goes in vain. I did not approach the elections with overconfidence, but with a deep sense of responsibility.

The result was the outcome of a collective Egyptian, Arab, African, and global effort — a triumph of values such as fairness and mutual respect, not merely a political win.

Fifty-five votes are not just a number; they represent the world’s trust in Egypt’s vision and in our capacity to lead UNESCO with a human-centered approach.

I sincerely thank the Egyptian state and its leadership for their unwavering support, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for conducting this campaign with dedication and professionalism.

The Election Campaign: A Global Effort

Q: Tell us about the campaign’s structure and its main ideas.

El-Enany: The campaign was a genuine epic of teamwork that extended over many months. It was led by the Egyptian state, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the forefront, and received direct backing from the President.

We operated on every front — diplomatic visits, international meetings, and global outreach.

The file we presented was not a marketing brochure; it was an intellectual and strategic vision that linked education, culture, science, heritage, and peace.

Our goal was never to seek the position for Egypt’s sake alone, but to put our historical experience at the service of humanity.

Every meeting was a chance to build new bridges of trust — and the world voted for that value, not for an individual.

Vision and Challenges

Q: What were the main ideas in your program, and what challenges did you face — especially after the U.S. withdrawal from UNESCO?

El-Enany: Our campaign file was a complete plan to revitalize UNESCO.

We focused on the human face of the organization — bringing it closer to people, strengthening its field presence, and ensuring balanced cultural representation.

We proposed linking heritage with development, transforming culture into an economic resource, and empowering youth and women in decision-making.

The greatest challenge was the complex international political climate and the withdrawal or reduced participation of some major countries.

We faced this with flexibility and faith that UNESCO must remain the home of humanity, not a hostage of politics.

Our campaign was political in scope but profoundly human in spirit — driven by conviction that education and culture are the surest paths to lasting peace.

Facing Global Environmental Challenges

Q: How can UNESCO play a stronger role in addressing environmental issues like climate change and biodiversity loss, especially with the upcoming COP30 Conference in Brazil?

El-Enany: Environment is not a separate file; it is the core of human awareness.

UNESCO manages a wide network of natural reserves and biosphere sites, key to protecting biodiversity worldwide.

At COP30 in Brazil, we will launch initiatives focused on environmental education, integrating sustainability into school curricula, and supporting scientific research on climate change and its impact on cultural and natural heritage.

We will also strengthen cooperation among universities and research centers, especially in developing countries, to make environmental knowledge accessible to all.

Our duty is to connect science with conscience, reminding the world that Earth is not a resource to exploit, but a legacy to protect for future generations.

On the Withdrawal of Major Members

Q: The withdrawal of some countries, such as the United States, impacts UNESCO’s budget and programs. How will you address this?

El-Enany: The withdrawal of any major member leaves its mark — financially, politically, and symbolically.

Yet UNESCO’s mission is larger than any single withdrawal. Its true strength lies in the diversity and solidarity of its members.

We are diversifying funding sources through partnerships with the private sector, cultural and educational institutions, and development banks.

We also encourage voluntary contributions from member states to specific projects.

Projects previously funded by the U.S. have been restructured into broader multilateral programs to ensure continuity.

Our goal is to preserve UNESCO’s independence and sustainability — culture and science must serve humanity beyond political divisions.

Revisiting UNESCO’s Heritage Conventions

Q: After decades, do you think UNESCO’s heritage conventions need updating?

El-Enany: Indeed, this question strikes at the heart of the organization’s evolution.

The conventions of the 1970s and 1990s were groundbreaking — they introduced the concept of “shared human heritage.”

But today’s world has changed profoundly: environmental, technological, and social realities demand new mechanisms and fairer cultural representation.

We must strengthen technical support for developing countries and ensure a more balanced global heritage list that truly reflects humanity’s diversity.

Priorities and Strategic Vision

Q: What are your main priorities for the coming phase?

El-Enany: My priorities revolve around Humanity, Knowledge, and Peace, built upon four main pillars:

1.   Education — the foundation of all development, focusing on digital equality and preparing future generations without losing their human values.

2.   Culture and Heritage — transforming heritage into an economic driver that empowers local communities and creates youth opportunities.

3.   Science and Innovation — promoting research in environment, water, and sustainable energy, and building bridges between North and South.

4.   Peace and Cultural Dialogue — because dialogue among peoples is no longer a luxury; it is a necessity for survival.

Our strategy rests on Partnership, Transparency, and Field Effectiveness.

We will make UNESCO closer to people, more present on the ground, and less burdened by bureaucracy.

My message is to restore the organization’s original spirit — a global home for reason and conscience, leading humanity toward a fairer and more beautiful future.

A Message to the Youth

El-Enany: My message to young people is simple yet profound: You are not merely the future — you are the living present of our world.

Peace is not created only in conferences but begins with an idea in young minds and an initiative in schools and communities.

Make education your tool to change reality, not merely a path to employment.

Sustainable education liberates the mind, teaches respect for others, and shows that diversity is strength, not threat.

UNESCO will be your partner in building a world that is more aware, just, and peaceful.

Dr. Khaled El-Enany — A Legacy of Pride

• PhD in Egyptology from Paul-Valéry University – Montpellier III, France (2001), where he later served as Visiting Professor eight times between 2006–2013 and again in 2023.

The university awarded him an Honorary Doctorate in 2024.

• Served as Minister of Antiquities (2016) and later as Minister of Tourism and Antiquities (2019) — the first to hold both portfolios simultaneously.
• Recipient of several distinguished honors:
• Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur – France (2025)
• Order of the Rising Sun – Japan (2021)
• Order of Merit – Poland (2020)
• Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres – France (2015)
• Patron of the African World Heritage Fund (2025)
• Cultural Tourism Ambassador – UNWTO (2024)
• Honorary Member – French Society of Egyptology (2016)
• Corresponding Member – German Archaeological Institute, Berlin (2015)