Abdelatty met El-Enany in Cairo on Saturday alongside members of his campaign team, in what the Foreign Ministry described as part of the minister’s regular follow-up on the bid.
El-Enany briefed Abdelatty on the outcome of a two-year diplomatic tour to all 58 member states of UNESCO’s Executive Board, stating that the intensive outreach had helped build momentum behind Egypt’s candidacy.
The meeting also reviewed preparations for the campaign’s upcoming visit to Paris, ahead of the vote scheduled for October 2025.
Abdelatty pledged the ministry would continue mobilizing support “in the critical weeks ahead,” describing the nomination as “a matter of great national importance.”
He said Egypt viewed the bid as not only a national project but “a joint Egyptian, Arab and African candidacy that reflects shared interests,” citing Cairo’s “historic and leading role in education, science, and culture.”
Egypt nominated El-Enany, a former Minister of Tourism and Antiquities and a renowned Egyptologist, for the post in 2023.
He is widely respected for his work on cultural heritage management, having overseen major initiatives to preserve and promote the country’s ancient monuments and museums.
In September, he was awarded the insignia of Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur, France’s highest civilian distinction, with French ambassador Éric Chevallier praising his “remarkable career and constant commitment” to education, culture, scientific research, and intercultural dialogue.
Egypt has framed its candidacy as a reflection of the country’s civilisational depth and cultural leadership.
Egyptian fficials say this campaign is more coordinated than Egypt’s last UNESCO bid in 2017, when former minister Moushira Khattab narrowly lost to France’s Audrey Azoulay, the outgoing director-general.
Diplomats argue El-Enany’s candidacy combines sustained diplomatic outreach, endorsements from African and Arab countries, and cultural diplomacy, positioning Egypt as a bridge between civilizations.
They say his election would mark both a national milestone and an Arab-African success, amplifying the region’s voice in global cultural governance.
UNESCO’s Executive Board will choose the new director-general with a two-thirds majority.
The October vote comes amid debate over the organization’s role in safeguarding heritage in conflict zones, expanding access to education, and responding to global scientific and technological challenges.
Cairo has argued that, as a founding member with one of the world’s richest cultural legacies, Egypt is uniquely placed to lead.
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