Khaled El-Anany: Egyptologist and First Arab to Head UNESCO

SadaNews - An Egyptian researcher and academic known for his expertise in education, scientific research, culture, tourism, administration, and international relations. He served as the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities in Egypt, worked as a professor of Egyptology at Helwan University, and spent more than three decades in teaching and academic research. He was elected as the President of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in October 2025.

His academic career focused on the study of ancient Egyptian civilization, its artifacts, and inscriptions, and his educational efforts extended to prestigious international institutions and universities.

Birth and Education

Khaled Ahmed El-Anany was born on March 14, 1971, in Giza Governorate, the Arab Republic of Egypt.

He obtained a Bachelor's degree in tour guiding from the Faculty of Tourism and Hotels at Helwan University in 1992, and was appointed in 1993 as a university professor in the same faculty.

He earned a Master's degree in Egyptology in 1996 from Helwan University, focusing on a study about Nubian temples.

In 2024, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from Paul Valéry University Montpellier 3 in France.

El-Anany is fluent in Arabic, French, and English.

Professional Path

Khaled El-Anany began his research career in 2002, working as a co-researcher, Egyptology expert, and a member of the board of directors and scientific council of the French Institute for Eastern Archaeology in Cairo, contributing to the development of archaeological research and training young Egyptian researchers.

Between 2006 and 2023, he served as a visiting professor at Paul Valéry University Montpellier 3 in France, and in 2011, he became a professor of Egyptology at Helwan University.

During 2014-2016, El-Anany oversaw the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization and the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. In 2015, he was honored with the French Order of Arts and Letters at the Knight level, and in 2016, he was chosen as an honorary member of the French Society of Egyptology in Paris.

In terms of government work, he was appointed as Minister of Antiquities from 2016 to 2019, and then as Minister of Tourism and Antiquities from 2019 to 2022, leading the merger of the two ministries.

With an annual budget of nearly $500 million, he succeeded in mobilizing funding, attracting sponsors, and building partnerships with the private sector and civil society organizations, in addition to launching legislative reforms to protect cultural heritage and develop the tourism sector.

El-Anany led a team of more than 35,000 employees, managing a network of over 2,000 archaeological sites, 40 museums, and thousands of tourism facilities. He also contributed to the establishment and renovation of more than 20 museums in various governorates, including the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in collaboration with UNESCO, while continuing to oversee the Great Egyptian Museum project.

He supervised more than 50 restoration projects for archaeological sites and religious and historical landmarks, facilitating the work of more than 300 Egyptian and foreign archaeological missions from 25 countries, resulting in important archaeological discoveries.

To enhance international cultural exchange, he organized about 15 temporary exhibitions of Egyptian antiquities in 10 countries and oversaw major events, including the "Luxor - Avenue of Sphinxes" celebration and the Royal Mummy Parade, which helped enhance Egypt's global standing and revitalized tourism both domestically and internationally.

He also prioritized human resource development through training programs for children and youth at archaeological sites, schools, and museums, building capacities for ministry staff, tourism facilities, and local communities.

Academically and educationally, El-Anany participated in developing specialized Master's programs in cultural heritage, museums, and tourism in collaboration with international universities and was appointed as a member of the Board of Trustees of the French University in Egypt and several universities in Cairo.

In November 2024, he was chosen by the United Nations World Tourism Organization as an ambassador for cultural tourism, before becoming a patron of the African World Heritage Fund in September of the same year.

His name became associated with widespread controversy in 2020 following damage to historic tombs in Cairo due to urban development projects. The evacuation of impoverished residents and the transfer of remains from the UNESCO World Heritage site drew sharp criticism from activists and heritage advocates. The Ministry of Antiquities, under El-Anany, responded that it "did not destroy any historical artifacts," asserting that the works included "only contemporary graves."

Director-General of UNESCO

On October 6, 2025, Khaled El-Anany was elected as the Director-General of UNESCO for the period from 2025 to 2029, succeeding the French Audrey Azoulay, after receiving 55 votes out of 58 in the organization's executive board election, comfortably exceeding the minimum required for victory, set at 30 votes.

With his victory, El-Anany became the 12th Director-General in UNESCO's history, the first Egyptian and Arab to lead it, and the second African after Senegalese Amadou Mbow (1974-1987).

In his electoral campaign launched in 2023, El-Anany presented a reformist vision grounded in a "new perspective" aimed at enhancing the organization’s presence and expanding its global influence, leveraging his extensive experience as a researcher, university professor, museum director, and former minister.

Positions and Responsibilities

Director of the Open Education Center at the University of Helsinki from 2010-2012.

Head of the Tour Guidance Department at the Faculty of Tourism and Hotels, Helwan University, from 2011-2012.

Co-researcher and Egyptology expert, member of the administrative and scientific councils of the French Institute for Eastern Archaeology from 2002-2016.

Visiting professor at Paul Valéry University Montpellier 3 from 2006-2023.

Deputy Dean for Education and Students at the Faculty of Tourism and Hotels, Helwan University, in 2012-2013.

General Supervisor of the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization from 2014-2016.

Corresponding member of the German Archaeological Institute in Berlin since 2015.

General Supervisor of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo from 2015-2016.

Minister of Antiquities in Egypt from 2016 to 2019.

Honorary member of the French-Egyptian Society since 2016.

Minister of Tourism and Antiquities from 2019 to 2022.

Member of the Board of Trustees of the French University in Egypt and several other universities in Cairo since 2023.

Special ambassador for cultural tourism at the United Nations World Tourism Organization since 2024.

Patron of the African World Heritage Fund since 2025.

Awards and Honors

Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters from France in 2015.

Order of Merit from the Republic of Poland in 2020.

Order of the Rising Sun from Japan in 2021.

Knight of the National Order of the Legion of Honor in 2025.

Source: Al Jazeera + Agencies + Various Websites