H.E. Ahmed Aboul Gheit is the Secretary General of the Arab League. Before being elected Secretary General in July 2016, he served as Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt from 2004 to 2011. H.E. Aboul Gheit previously served as the Permanent Representative of Egypt to the United Nations, from 1999 to 2004. Between 1992 and 1996, he was Egypt’s Ambassador to Italy, Macedonia and San Marino, and Representative to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in Rome. He served as Chef de Cabinet of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt twice, from 1989 to 1992, and 1996 to 1999, and was Political Adviser to the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1989 to 1990. Prior to holding these positions, H.E. Aboul Gheit was Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations (1987-1989); Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of Egypt to the United Nations (1985-1987); Political Adviser to the Prime Minister of Egypt (1984-1985); and, Political Adviser to the Minster of Foreign Affairs of Egypt (1982-1984). After joining the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1965, H.E. Aboul Gheit was an Attaché/Third Secretary at the Egyptian Embassy in Cyprus in 1968, where he served until 1972. He was later a member of staff of the Adviser to the President on National Security Affairs (1972-1974); Second/First Secretary at the Permanent Mission of Egypt to the United Nations (1974-1977); Counsellor, Cabinet of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Special Aide (1977-1979); and Political Counsellor, Embassy of Egypt in Moscow (1979-1982). Born on June 12, 1942, in Heliopolis, Egypt, H.E. Aboul Gheit obtained a Bachelor’s degree in economics at Ain Shams University, Cairo. He is married and has two children.