KATHMANDU: Shaikha Al Nowais has been confirmed as the new Secretary-General of UN Tourism, becoming the first woman to lead the United Nations specialized agency for tourism in its 50-year history.

The appointment was ratified during the 26th UN Tourism General Assembly held in Riyadh, following her nomination by the organization’s Executive Council in May. Al Nowais will officially assume office at the beginning of 2026, succeeding current Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili, whose leadership she praised for strengthening the organization’s global voice.

A prominent figure in the hospitality industry, Al Nowais currently serves as Corporate Vice President at Rotana Hotels. She also chairs the Abu Dhabi Chamber’s Tourism Working Group and sits on the boards of the Abu Dhabi Businesswomen Council and Les Roches Hospitality Academy.

In her address to the Assembly, Al Nowais described her election as “a triumph for all of us,” emphasizing the sector’s power to connect and uplift communities. She outlined five core priorities for her upcoming tenure — responsible tourism, capacity building, technology for good, innovative financing, and smart governance — aimed at making global tourism “more inclusive, resilient, and human.”

The General Assembly, attended by representatives from 160 member states, also included plenary sessions and committee meetings focusing on investment, innovation, education, and expanding opportunities in the global tourism sector.