UNESCO's executive board has nominated Khaled El-Enany Ezz as its sole candidate for the next director-general, following a decisive vote during the organization's meetings at United Nations High Week. El-Enany, a 54-year-old Egyptian professor of Egyptology and former minister of tourism and antiquities, previously oversaw the construction and renovation of more than 20 museums, including the Grand Egyptian Museum. He will be the first Arab to lead UNESCO, replacing outgoing director-general Audrey Azoulay.
The selection comes at a critical moment for UNESCO, which is grappling with the destruction of cultural sites in both Ukraine and Gaza, as well as ongoing accusations of anti-Israel bias from the Trump administration and Israel. The US has announced its withdrawal from UNESCO by the end of 2026, a move that threatens the organization's finances. El-Enany's appointment has already sparked debate about whether it signals a deepening of perceived bias, particularly given that he replaces UNESCO's first Jewish director-general.