Key facts
- Lana Nusseibeh is the UAE's minister of state for foreign affairs.
- She previously served as the UAE's ambassador to the UN from September 2013 to April 2024.
- Nusseibeh co-chaired a General Assembly working group in 2016-17 that oversaw changes to the selection process for secretaries-general.
Senior UAE diplomat Lana Nusseibeh entered the race to become the next United Nations secretary-general on Wednesday, October 21. Her entry introduces a prominent Middle Eastern candidate into a contest that has struggled to produce a consensus choice among the Security Council's most powerful members.
Supporters of Nusseibeh are reportedly seeking backing from UN missions, as official candidates have failed to break a deadlock in the race to succeed António Guterres. The Security Council's informal voting has not yielded a clear winner, with permanent members deeply divided and candidates drawing negative votes. Rebeca Grynspan, head of UNCTAD, currently leads with nine positive votes but has also received two negative votes from permanent members.
Time is limited as Guterres' second term concludes on December 31, 2026, with his successor due to take office on January 1, 2027. Nusseibeh, who served as the UAE's ambassador to the UN from September 2013 until April 2024, is now the UAE's minister of state for foreign affairs. She previously oversaw changes to the UN secretary-general selection process, making it more participatory and transparent.