Former Egyptian minister of tourism and antiquities Khaled Ahmed El-Enany Ali Ezz speaks after winning the election of the candidate for the post of UNESCO director-general in Paris, France, on Oct. 6, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

Former Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Khaled El-Enany was elected the director-general of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the UNESCO General Conference announced on Thursday in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

Opening on Oct. 30 and running through Nov. 13, the 43rd session of UNESCO focuses on setting the organization's future priorities. As part of its agenda, the plenary meeting, held on Thursday, reviewed El-Enany's nomination as the new director-general and confirmed his election by vote.

After his election, El-Enany outlined his vision for a new chapter in UNESCO's history, calling for efforts to promote peace, strengthen unity, and inspire hope for all peoples.

Born in 1971, El-Enany began his career as a tour guide and is now a professor of Egyptology at Egypt's Helwan University, where he has taught for more than three decades. He became the first Arab and only the second African to lead UNESCO since its founding 80 years ago.