Dr. Hanan Al Kuwari Nominated by Qatar for WHO Director-General Post

Qatar has officially nominated its former Minister of Public Health, Dr. Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari, for the position of Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), placing her among the prospective candidates vying to succeed Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in 2027.

Dr. Al Kuwari, who directed Qatar’s public health sector from 2016 to 2024, joins a competitive field that includes Saudi Arabia’s Dr. Hanan Balkhy, Belgium’s WHO Europe chief Dr. Hans Henri P. Kluge, and Indonesia’s Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin. The upcoming election will select the next leader to take over when the current WHO Director-General completes his second five-year term on August 15, 2027.

The WHO Executive Board will review the applicants to shortlist up to three candidates in January 2027. The final decision will be made by the World Health Assembly in May 2027, with the newly appointed official scheduled to begin a five-year term on August 16, 2027.

Significance of the Nomination

This nomination underscores Qatar's active participation in global health leadership through the United Nations specialized agency. If chosen, Dr. Al Kuwari will manage the administrative and technical operations of the WHO while assisting Member States in promoting international public health initiatives, further establishing the nation's influence following her previous role as chair of the WHO Executive Board from 2023 to 2024.

Professional Background

During her tenure as Qatar’s Minister of Public Health and as Managing Director of Hamad Medical Corporation from 2007 to 2024, Dr. Al Kuwari guided the national healthcare infrastructure through the COVID-19 pandemic and managed medical preparations for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. Her extensive career and contributions to medicine were also recognized internationally when she was elected to the US National Academy of Medicine in 2018.