Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), extended his heartfelt congratulations to His Excellency Dr. Khaled El-Enany on his election as Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for the 2025-2029 term after winning a landslide victory in the historic vote conducted by the UNESCO Executive Board on Monday, 6 October 2025, in Paris.

Dr. AlMalik praised this honorable appointment, describing it as a historic turning point, marking the first time an Arab Egyptian has assumed this prestigious position. He affirmed that Dr. El-Enany enjoys a distinguished scientific and academic expertise coupled with proven administrative competence, demonstrated throughout his professional career, highlighting his notable contributions in education, culture, heritage preservation, and science, qualities that make him well-suited to lead UNESCO toward new horizons of creativity and innovation.

Moreover, ICESCO Director-General expressed his full confidence in Dr. El-Enany’s ability to elevate UNESCO’s status as a global beacon for peace, knowledge, and intercultural understanding. He pointed out that Dr El-Enany’s previous accomplishments in safeguarding and efficiently managing human heritage constitute a significant asset for his success in this major international mission.

Dr. AlMalik congratulated the Egyptian government on this historic achievement, commending its comprehensive mobilization of resources and unwavering support throughout the election campaign; efforts that culminated in the election of an Arab Egyptian to this high-level international position.

He further emphasized that ICESCO places its full trust in fostering a fruitful strategic partnership with UNESCO under Dr. El-Enany’s leadership, contributing to the promotion of a culture of peace, advancement of shared goals, support for innovation, protection of human heritage, and strengthening the role of culture, education, and science in achieving sustainable development and serving humanity as a whole.