THE MIDDLE EAST’S
55. Basmah Al-Mayman
Al-Mayman assumed her current role in 2018, becoming the first GCC national to hold a leading position at the UN Tourism and the first woman to lead the Middle East. She oversees 13 member states, one special observer country, and 39 affiliate members. In March 2023, the UN Tourism and the Ministry of Tourism in Saudi Arabia announced a partnership to boost education and training in the tourism sector. Al-Mayman represents UN Tourism in the Arab Ministerial Council for Tourism meetings in the League of Arab States. She was previously a board member of the UN Tourism Sustainable Tourism Eliminating Poverty Initiative for the Middle East and a founding member of the program and budget committee of the executive council for the Middle East.