On May 30, Shaikha Al Nowais of the UAE was elected as the new Secretary-General of UN Tourism, securing 24 votes against Greece’s 11 in the second round.
The initial first-round race, which included candidates from Greece, Ghana, Tunisia, Mexico, and the Emirates, was dramatically altered by the unexpected withdrawal of Zurab Pololikashvili’s candidacy by the Georgian Government just days before the election. Pololikashvili, the acting Secretary-General since 2018 and widely considered the strongest candidate, was withdrawn without his consultation, effectively paving the way for the UAE.
This abrupt move has fueled speculation of a “dark deal” between the Emirates and the Georgian government, as evidence reportedly emerged just days ago.
It is alleged that, in exchange for withdrawing strong Georgian candidate, oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, founder of the ruling party “Georgian Dream,” received George Bachiashvili from the Emirates. Bachiashvili, a former confidant of Ivanishvili now considered his personal enemy and reportedly a political prisoner, had been hiding in the Emirates.
This alleged instance of political corruption and shadow bargaining has raised significant questions regarding the integrity of the election process, sparking wide discussion within the tourism community. This event sets an unprecedented benchmark for the UN and could lead to legal consequences, as interest in oligarch Ivanishvili’s alleged deal with the Emirates continues to increase.
The developments prompted surprise and regret among UN Tourism member states, most of whom were then unable to support his candidacy. During his time as Secretary-General, Pololikashvili enjoyed significant support due to his many innovative steps to develop, strengthen, and modernize global tourism, alongside excellent cooperation with member states.
