Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
UNESCO leadership elections select individuals tasked with overseeing international programs in education, cultural heritage protection, and scientific cooperation.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
In late 2025, the General Conference of UNESCO elected Khaled El-Enany of Egypt as its 12th Director-General, succeeding Audrey Azoulay. El-Enany, an Egyptologist and former Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, took office on November 15, 2025, for a four-year term running through 2029. His election marks a major milestone: he is the first-ever leader from an Arab nation and only the second from the African continent to head UNESCO since its establishment in 1945.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The first Arab to head UNESCO as Director-General is Khaled El-Enany.