Qatar has formally submitted Dr. Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kuwari’s bid to run for the director-general position of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), QNA reports.

If elected, Al Kuwari, Qatar’s former long-time culture minister and current cultural advisor to the Emir, would be the first Arab to hold the position. He would succeed Irina Bokova, current leader of the Paris-based organization whose term ends in 2017.