Adel Imam

In many of my films I fight against discrimination and raise awareness about poverty and social problems - issues that need to be addressed but which are often not discussed easily. I asked myself how I could add more to the discussion, and with UNHCR I have an opportunity to make a positive contribution to humanity, to reach out and help people who are desperate and in need.

Adel Imam

Egyptian actor Adel Imam was appointed a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador in 2000 and has been a dedicated advocate for refugees throughout his time working with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency.

Throughout his rich career, Adel has combined humour with lived experiences to highlight that ordinary people are victims of injustice and poverty. He has played characters that advocate for minority rights, are sympathetic to the poor and vulnerable, and denounce fanaticism and extremism, making him a symbol of tolerance and human rights in the Arab world.

Past highlights of Imam’s UNHCR support

At the outset of his relationship with UNHCR in 2000, Adel travelled to Yemen – a country with one of the most protracted refugee crises globally. There, he met with refugees living in Kharaz camp and former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, advocating for the creation of a road from Kharaz to the capital to help facilitate the movement of refugees.

He has also collaborated with other UNHCR Goodwill Ambassadors, including the former Special Envoy, Angelina Jolie. Together, they visited a school for refugees in Egypt in December 2003.

In 2007, Adel visited Syria to meet with refugees from Iraq and spoke with the Syrian authorities about improving living conditions for refugees, as well as expediting the entry process for several Iraqi children stuck on the border.

In 2017, Imam was a keynote speaker at the World Refugee Day Celebration held by UNHCR at the Zamalek Cinema in Egypt. Addressing the audience, Imam said, “We should not stand still and watch the tragedies escalate; we should all extend our hands to the refugees everywhere.”

Throughout his twenty-three years of active support, Adel has also travelled to the United States, Jordan, Tunisia, Oman, Syria, and the United Arab Emirates, where he has leveraged his high-profile platform to raise awareness about refugees, brief the media on UNHCR activities, and build support for refugees in Arabic-speaking countries.