UAE nominates Lana Nusseibeh for UN Secretary-General

The United Arab Emirates has officially nominated Lana Nusseibeh, the current Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, for the position of United Nations Secretary-General. President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan submitted the formal candidacy to the UN Security Council and the President of the General Assembly, aiming to succeed António Guterres, whose ten-year term concludes on December 31, 2026.

Nusseibeh, 48, brings extensive diplomatic experience to the role, having served as the UAE’s Permanent Representative to the UN from 2013 to 2024. During her tenure, she also served as President of the Security Council and Vice President of the General Assembly. In her announcement, Nusseibeh emphasized the urgent need for the UN to transition from a passive observer of global crises to an active, problem-solving institution that upholds multilateralism. Her entry into the race coincides with a period of deadlock within the Security Council, where other candidates, including Rebeca Grynspan and Rafael Grossi, have also been discussed. Meanwhile, the former President of Senegal, Macky Sall, has withdrawn his interest in the position.

As the selection process continues, observers note that Nusseibeh's candidacy is viewed as a significant development. The Security Council is currently conducting informal voting sessions to identify a candidate, and Nusseibeh’s appointment would mark a shift in the diplomatic landscape as member states deliberate on the future leadership of the organization.