UAE nominates Lana Nusseibeh for UN Secretary-General position

The United Arab Emirates has officially nominated Minister of State Lana Zaki Nusseibeh for the position of United Nations Secretary-General. Following reports from the Financial Times earlier in the week, the UAE government confirmed the candidacy through a formal letter from President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, submitted to the UN Security Council and the President of the General Assembly.

Lana Nusseibeh brings extensive experience to the role, having served as the UAE’s Permanent Representative to the UN from 2013 to 2024. During her tenure, she also acted as Vice-President of the General Assembly and President of the Executive Board of UN Women. Her nomination comes as the ten-year tenure of the current Secretary-General, António Guterres, is set to conclude on December 31, 2026.

She joins an emerging field of potential candidates for the post, with observers noting the names of Rebeca Grynspan and Rafael Grossi as other prominent figures often discussed in diplomatic circles for the position. The appointment process will proceed according to the established protocols for selecting the new leadership of the international organization.