Egyptian Diplomat at the Heart of International Negotiations: Ahmed Khafagy’s Distinguished Career Spanning Cairo, Manama, and Brussels
In a world teeming with political and legal challenges, the name Ahmed Khafagy stands out as one of Egypt’s most prominent diplomats. He has represented the nation in international forums from East Asia to the heart of Europe and across the Arabian Gulf. With over two decades of experience and prestigious academic credentials, Khafagy has successfully combined professional diplomacy with deep legal insight, establishing himself as a distinguished figure in the fields of international relations and international law.
Khafagy began his diplomatic journey in Sri Lanka before moving on to Bosnia and Herzegovina, then Brussels, and eventually settling in Bahrain. At each post, he carried Egypt’s diplomatic portfolio, representing its interests with skill and competence. In Brussels, he participated in sensitive negotiations with members of the European Parliament from across the political spectrum, as well as with senior NATO officials. These engagements enabled him to build an extensive network within European decision-making circles.
One of his most notable achievements was his active participation in the eleventh round of negotiations between Egypt and Greece on the demarcation of the maritime border. These talks culminated in a historic agreement in 2020, widely regarded as a strategic victory for Egypt in the Eastern Mediterranean.
His expertise extended beyond diplomatic missions. From 2022 to 2024, Khafagy served as a legal advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Kingdom of Bahrain, where he played a pivotal role in interpreting international agreements signed by Bahrain. He also represented the Kingdom, in cooperation with an international law firm, in the well-known case Nico vs. Bahrain before the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). Furthermore, he managed sensitive files related to Bahrain’s accession to international legal organizations such as the Hague Conference on Private International Law and UNIDROIT.
In Egypt, Khafagy held several high-ranking positions, including Director of the International Treaties Department and Director of the International Legal Affairs Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He was also a member of the national team in the Arab Quartet’s case against Qatar before the International Court of Justice concerning the jurisdiction of the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization. In addition, he served as Rapporteur General of the National Committee for the Law of the Sea.
Khafagy holds two university degrees, one in International Economics from Helwan University (1998) and another in Law from Ain Shams University (2008). He also earned a postgraduate diploma in International and Comparative Law from the American University in Cairo (2013), and a prestigious fellowship from The Hague Academy of International Law of the United Nations (2022). This solid academic background qualified him to participate in high-level training courses in Singapore, Geneva, San Remo, Paris, Beijing, and Canberra, covering complex topics such as maritime boundary delimitation, immigration law, the use of force, and international arbitration.
On the academic front, Khafagy has served as a judge in several international moot court competitions, including the Model Court at the German University in Cairo and the international Arabic-language competition organized by the Saudi Center for Commercial Arbitration. He has also delivered specialized lectures in public international law at the Egyptian Diplomatic Studies Institute, the Bahraini Diplomatic Academy, and Future University.
With this rich and diverse career, Ahmed Khafagy embodies the ideal of a professional legal diplomat. He is capable of engaging with complex international issues with both skill and legal precision. Through political negotiations, legal affairs, and academic contributions, Khafagy continues to represent an honorable model of contemporary Egyptian diplomacy.
