Khalid Ahmad Al-Anani

Khalid Ahmad Al-Anani is an Egyptian academic and politician, recently elected as the Director-General of UNESCO during a summit in Samarkand. He garnered 172 out of 179 votes, marking a significant moment as he becomes the first leader from an Arab country and the second African to hold this position, succeeding Audrey Azoulay. Al-Anani has an extensive background in Egyptology, holding a Ph.D. from Paul Valéry University in Montpellier, France, and has spent over 30 years teaching at Ali Ezz Helwan University in Egypt. He has held various notable positions, including Minister of Antiquities and Minister of Tourism and Antiquities in Egypt, and has been actively engaged in cultural preservation and tourism management.