In his first statement as the newly appointed secretary-general of the Arab League, Nabil Fahmy outlined what he sees as the organization’s key priorities for the coming years: modernizing its mechanisms and deepening Arab consultation and coordination.
After the Arab League approved his appointment on Monday, Fahmy said his five-year term, which begins on July 1, would focus on updating the organization and adapting its working methods to keep pace with rapid regional and international changes.
He stressed that the current phase requires closer Arab coordination to confront the crises and security threats facing the region, while strengthening cooperation to capitalize on emerging opportunities and turn existing challenges into drivers of stability and development.
Describing his unanimous selection as a “historic responsibility at a sensitive and pivotal moment,” Fahmy said the Arab world is confronting major challenges amid fast-moving regional and global transformations.
These conditions, he argued, demand stronger collective action, the defense of Arab interests, and a renewed commitment to solidarity among member states.
Fahmy underlined respect for the sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity of Arab states, as well as support for national efforts to achieve sustainable development and improve living standards.
He pledged that the Arab League would remain “the common home of the Arabs” and continue serving as a platform for dialogue, consultation, and coordination.
Changing strategic landscape
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Egyptian diplomat Mohamed Hegazy, a member of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs and a former assistant foreign minister, said Fahmy’s priorities reflect a clear reading of the region’s realities.
“The Arab League must evolve in ways that add real value to collective Arab action,” Hegazy said, arguing that deeper consultation among Arab states will be essential to rebuilding confidence in the institution.
He pointed to a rapidly shifting strategic environment marked by the repercussions of the US-Iran conflict, the ongoing war in Gaza, the protracted crises in Sudan, Libya, and Yemen, and broader changes in the international order.
According to Hegazy, Fahmy’s unanimous election reflects broad confidence in his diplomatic experience, extensive regional and international ties, and ability to help reposition the Arab League at a particularly complex moment.
Fahmy succeeds fellow Egyptian Ahmed Aboul Gheit, who led the organization from 2016 to 2026. He will become the Arab League’s ninth secretary-general since its founding in 1945 and the eighth Egyptian to hold the post.
Rebuilding trust
Hegazy said that Fahmy’s first challenge will be restoring political confidence in the Arab League as a forum for Arab consensus rather than a body confined to meetings and communiques.
“The real challenge is not administrative reform, but convincing member states that the League can generate political value and manage disagreements through institutional mechanisms,” he explained.
According to Hegazy, institutional reform is also likely to include a review of decision-making procedures, a stronger role for research centers, and greater use of technology and artificial intelligence to support policymaking.
The League may also place greater emphasis on development, economic integration, digital transformation, energy, and food and water security - issues increasingly viewed as central to modern Arab national security.
Ultimately, Hegazy said, Fahmy’s success will depend on his ability to transform the Arab League from an institution that reflects Arab divisions into one that helps overcome them, forging a common Arab vision for security, development, and engagement with a rapidly changing world.
