UAE nominates Lana Nusseibeh for UN secretary-general

The United Arab Emirates has nominated senior diplomat Lana Zaki Nusseibeh to succeed António Guterres as secretary-general of the

ABU DHABI: The United Arab Emirates has nominated senior diplomat Lana Zaki Nusseibeh to succeed António Guterres as secretary-general of the United Nations, adding a Middle Eastern candidate to an increasingly competitive race for the top international post.

The UAE Foreign Ministry announced the nomination on Wednesday, citing Nusseibeh’s extensive experience at the United Nations and her ability to address complex international challenges. She currently serves as the UAE’s minister of state for foreign affairs.

Nusseibeh, 48, served as the UAE’s permanent representative to the United Nations from 2013 to 2024. She was the first woman to hold the position for her country and played a significant role in securing the UAE’s election to the UN Security Council for a two-year term.

Speaking to Reuters before formally announcing her candidacy, Nusseibeh said the world body needed to strengthen its role as a diplomatic problem-solver rather than remain a spectator to global crises. She called for renewed commitment to multilateralism and greater efforts to address international challenges through diplomacy.

She entered the race relatively late after, according to her account, several countries approached her during the most recent UN General Assembly and encouraged her to stand. Diplomats in New York have described her as an effective manager with substantial experience in international negotiations.

The contest remains uncertain. Former Costa Rican vice president Rebeca Grynspan had emerged as a narrow frontrunner in informal Security Council polls, according to diplomatic sources. However, all candidates reportedly received at least two opposing votes from the council’s five permanent members: Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States.

Those five countries hold decisive influence over the selection process. Security Council members are discussing whether to conduct another informal poll on Friday or at a later date as efforts continue to identify a candidate who can secure sufficient support.

Nusseibeh’s diplomatic record includes her work on humanitarian access during the Gaza war, which began in 2023. During her tenure at the United Nations, she helped secure the adoption of Security Council Resolution 2720, which established a mechanism intended to facilitate humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza.

She said she helped build support for the resolution by arranging a visit for Security Council members to the Rafah border crossing, allowing them to observe conditions on the ground. She described the approach as an example of the creative diplomacy she would bring to the secretary-general’s office.

As a senior UAE diplomat, Nusseibeh has also supported Abu Dhabi’s assertive foreign policy and its emphasis on countering political Islam. Her nomination could therefore bring renewed attention to the UAE’s regional priorities and diplomatic approach during the selection process.

If elected, Nusseibeh would become the first woman to lead the United Nations and only the second secretary-general from the Middle East, following Egypt’s Boutros Boutros-Ghali. She said she would welcome the prospect of a woman taking the role but stressed that her candidacy was based on her commitment to diplomacy and confidence in the organisation’s future, rather than her gender.