International consensus on selecting Sheikha Al Nowais as Secretary-General of the United Nations Tourism Organization for the period from 2026 to 2029.

In a historic achievement that strengthens the leading position of the United Arab Emirates on the global tourism map, the daughter of the Emirates, Sheikha Nasser Al Nowais, won international consensus to appoint her as Secretary-General of the United Nations Tourism Organization for the period from 2026 to 2029, during the organization’s General Assembly meeting in its twenty-sixth session, hosted by the Saudi capital, Riyadh, during the period from 7 to 11 November, where she was chosen with the full approval of all participating member states, numbering more. From 160 countries.

This victory comes after her election last May by the organization’s Executive Council to assume the position. Today, Sheikha Al Nowais completed all the steps of nomination, election, and victory in accordance with the organization’s protocol with unprecedented success, becoming the first woman in the world and the first Emirati person to lead the organization since its founding 50 years ago, in a step that reflects international confidence in Emirati competencies and their role in leading the future of global tourism, and is considered the culmination of the UAE’s journey in supporting and empowering women and enhancing their presence in international leadership positions. The announcement was made during the participation of a delegation from the UAE in the work of this session, headed by Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism.

Abdullah bin Touq said: “Today we are facing a historic moment, not only for the United Arab Emirates, but for the Arab region, all countries of the world and the international tourism sector as a whole, with the selection of the first woman to lead the global tourism system. This international consensus on choosing the daughter of the Emirates, Sheikha Al Nowais, embodies the prestigious international position that the country enjoys in the tourism sector and its economic diplomacy, and at the same time confirms the pioneering and growing role it plays in supporting sustainable tourism development and strengthening bridges of communication and rapprochement.” culture among the peoples of the world.

He added: “This achievement comes as confirmation of the wise approach established by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, may God protect him, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in supporting excellence and innovation, empowering national competencies to make influential leadership contributions within international organizations, and consolidating the UAE’s presence as a reliable partner in leading global economic development initiatives.”

Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri extended his thanks and appreciation to the member states of the United Nations Tourism Organization for their great confidence and support in nominating the daughter of the UAE for this leadership position, stressing that this historic achievement pushes us to further work and effort to enhance the UAE’s efforts in shaping the features of a more sustainable and prosperous future for global tourism.

He added: “Based on the vision of our wise leadership, which not only anticipates the future but contributes to shaping it and creating its achievements, the UAE has been able over the past decades to consolidate its position as one of the most prominent tourist destinations in the world, and this is due to the advanced infrastructure it possesses, sustainable strategic investments, and cultural and societal diversity based on the values ​​of tolerance and openness.”

He stressed the UAE’s firm commitment to supporting the organization’s programs and work plans during the next phase, and to strengthening international partnerships in the tourism sector, to ensure the exchange of experiences and global best practices, and to enhance integration between governments, the private sector, and civil society to achieve sustainable tourism goals. He pointed out that the country’s air transport sector played a pivotal role in strengthening its position in the global tourism and travel scene, as the UAE’s aviation networks formed a bridge linking the east of the world to its west, and contributes to facilitating the movement of travelers, businessmen, students, and tourists, making the UAE a global center for economic and cultural exchange. Social and cognitive.

For her part, Sheikha Nasser Al Nowais expressed her sincere thanks and appreciation to all member states of the United Nations Tourism Organization for their trust and support in assuming this international responsibility at a stage that requires concerted efforts, teamwork and an ambitious future vision, stressing her firm belief that tourism is not just an economic industry, but rather a bridge for human communication, and a basic pillar for promoting understanding, peace and sustainable development among peoples and cultures around the world.

She pointed out that her accession to this position would not have been achieved without the wise vision of the wise leadership of the UAE, and its unlimited support for empowering Emirati women, in various fields, including the tourism sector, which has today become one of the main engines of the sustainable development process, noting that this achievement consolidates the role of the UAE in formulating global tourism policies and trends during the coming period.

Sheikha Al Nowais said: “Together – governments, organizations, and partners from the private sector and civil society – we will lead a new phase of joint action, based on innovation, empowerment and sustainability, in addition to developing human competencies. We will strive for tourism to become a comprehensive sector that opens opportunities for everyone, especially youth, women and local communities, in a way that enhances sustainable growth and global cultural interaction.”

She stressed that her vision for leading the global tourism system is based on transforming challenges into opportunities, redesigning tourism work systems to meet the needs of local communities and strengthen national economies, as well as strengthening partnerships in order to expand the organization’s ability to support developing countries by providing training, qualification and capacity-building programmes, enhancing their access to financing and partnerships, and enabling them to benefit from successful expertise and experiences.

In detail, the work of the current session witnessed a series of intensive meetings of the General Assembly and the Executive Council of the United Nations Tourism Organization, which dealt with a wide range of strategic files and topics related to the implementation of international tourism programs. It focused on enhancing the sustainability of the tourism sector at the regional and global levels, developing human skills and competencies in the field of tourism, and supporting digital transformation and innovation in tourist destinations around the world, which contributes to raising the level of quality of tourism experiences and enhancing the competitiveness of member states.

The organization’s meetings represented a starting point for a new phase of restructuring the role of tourism within the economies of member states, especially in light of the current global challenges, including climate change, accelerating digital transformations, and changing traveler behaviors. It also opens the way for promoting sustainable tourism models that take into account the environment and local communities, support global economic growth, and create new opportunities for innovation and investment, so that the tourism sector becomes an essential tributary to comprehensive and sustainable economic growth for future generations.

The meetings of the current session of the organization witnessed in-depth dialogues about the future of global tourism after the recovery period from the repercussions of the pandemic, and the growing need to rebuild the sector on more flexible, sustainable and diversified foundations. During the discussions, the importance of reformulating international tourism models was emphasized so that they are more capable of supporting global economic growth, providing job opportunities, stimulating innovation, and achieving a balance between the requirements of economic growth and preserving the environment and natural and cultural resources.