During the 28th Universal Postal Congress taking place this September in Dubai, the UPU’s 192 member countries will elect the organization’s leadership, as well as the members of its two governing councils, for the next four-year cycle.
In December 2024, UPU Director General Masahiko Metoki notified member countries of the election procedures, inviting them to nominate candidates for the positions of Director General and Deputy Director General, as well as their candidacies for membership in the organization’s Council of Administration and Postal Operations Council.
The elected officials and council members will be tasked with implementing the work programme decided by the Dubai Congress until a new agenda is set by the 29th Universal Postal Congress in 2029.
Elections of the Director and Deputy Director General
The Director General oversees the UPU’s secretariat, the International Bureau, with the support of the Deputy Director General. Each position is limited to a maximum of two terms, with each term corresponding to the work period between ordinary Congresses.
Elections for the posts of Director General and Deputy Director General will take place consecutively by secret ballot during the Congress. Ballots will be held until there is a majority of votes in favour of one candidate, while the candidate with the least number of ballots in each round will be eliminated.
Those elected to the post of Director General and Deputy Director General will take up their duties on 1 January 2026, unless otherwise decided by the Congress.
UPU member countries may submit candidates for Director General and Deputy Director General to the International Bureau no later than 8 July 2025.
Candidates must be nationals of the nominating UPU member country and their application must be accompanied by a curriculum vitae.
Council of Administration elections
The Congress will also decide the membership of the UPU’s supervisory body, the Council of Administration (CA), which is responsible for ensuring the continuity of work between Congresses.
The Congress host country, the United Arab Emirates, will automatically hold one seat and chair the CA. The Congress will elect the remaining 40 members, ensuring equitable geographic distribution across the UPU’s five regions, including one seat reserved for Pacific small island developing tates.
At least half of the council’s membership should constitute new members, according to the UPU’s General Regulations, with each country being limited to two consecutive membership terms. Member countries under automatic sanctions cannot be elected.
The election to determine the next members of the CA will take place during the Congress plenary session on 18 September 2025.
Member countries must submit their candidacy to the International Bureau no later than 11 September 2025.
As of 16 June 2025, the following countries have submitted their candidacies for CA membership:
Geographical Region | Allocated Seats | Candidates |
Group 1 – Western Hemisphere | 8 |
|
Group 2 – Eastern Europe and Northern Asia | 5 |
|
Group 3 – Western Europe | 6 |
|
Group 4 – Southern Asia and Oceania | 10 |
|
Group 5 – Africa | 11 |
|
Postal Operations Council elections
The Postal Operations Council (POC) is responsible for operational, commercial, technical and economic questions concerning the postal service between Congresses.
Its 48 seats are designated among regions to ensure equitable geographic distribution, including one seat for Pacific small island developing states. According to the UPU’s General Regulations, at least one third of members in each geographic group should be new, however, there is no limit on how many consecutive terms members can serve. Countries under automatic sanctions cannot be elected.
The election to determine the next members of the POC will take place during the Congress plenary session on 18 September 2025. Member countries must submit their candidacy to the International Bureau no later than 11 September 2025.
The POC Chair, Vice-Chairs, and Committee Co-Chairs will be selected by POC member countries during the Council’s first meeting, taking place immediately following the Congress and presided over by the Congress Chair.
As of 16 June 2025, the following countries have submitted their candidacies for POC membership:
Geographical Region | Allocated Seats | Candidates |
Group 1 – Western Hemisphere | 8 |
|
Group 2 – Eastern Europe and Northern Asia | 6 |
|
Group 3 – Western Europe | 12 |
|
Group 4 – Southern Asia and Oceania | 11 |
|
Group 5 – Africa | 11 |
|
More information
For more information on elections and their Rules of Procedure, member country delegates are encouraged to use their UPU Documentation Centre credentials to access Congress documents here.