Lana Nusseibeh, the United Arab Emirates' Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and a former ambassador to the United Nations, has announced her candidacy to become the next UN Secretary-General.
The 48-year-old diplomat entered the race on Wednesday as discussions within the UN Security Council remain deadlocked, with no candidate yet securing the necessary support to emerge as the clear successor to the organisation's current leadership.
Calls for a more active United Nations
Speaking to Reuters ahead of her announcement, Nusseibeh argued that the United Nations must reclaim a more effective diplomatic role in addressing global crises.
She said the organisation requires leadership committed to strengthening multilateralism and restoring the UN's ability to act as a problem-solving institution rather than merely observing international conflicts.
Security Council remains divided
Nusseibeh enters the contest at a relatively late stage of the selection process.
According to Reuters, former Costa Rican vice-president Rebeca Grynspan currently holds a narrow lead in informal Security Council voting. However, all candidates, including Grynspan, have received negative votes from at least two of the council's five permanent members: the United States, United Kingdom, France, Russia and China.
Diplomatic consultations are continuing, with discussions reportedly under way on holding another round of voting.
Record at the United Nations
Nusseibeh served for more than a decade as the UAE's ambassador to the United Nations and led the country's successful campaign to secure a seat on the Security Council.
Diplomats cited by Reuters describe her as an experienced negotiator with strong administrative and diplomatic credentials.
During her tenure at the UN, she played a key role in securing support for Security Council Resolution 2720, which facilitated the delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza during the war that began in 2023.
According to Nusseibeh, support for the resolution was strengthened after Security Council members visited the Rafah border crossing to assess conditions firsthand.
Sudan allegations cast shadow over campaign
Her candidacy comes as the United Arab Emirates faces scrutiny over allegations concerning the conflict in Sudan.
UN experts monitoring sanctions implementation have described as credible allegations that the UAE provided military support to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Abu Dhabi has consistently denied the claims.
Asked whether the allegations could affect her campaign, Nusseibeh said she had stepped away from her UAE government duties and would focus on addressing the humanitarian crisis in Sudan.
Bid could make UN history
If elected, Nusseibeh would become only the second UN chief from the Middle East, following former Egyptian Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali.
She would also become the first woman to serve as Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Nusseibeh has nevertheless stressed that her candidacy is based on experience and leadership rather than gender, arguing that the UN needs faster diplomacy and more tangible results in responding to global challenges.
I am standing to be Secretary-General because I believe this is a moment to act with greater urgency: to act earlier, bring people together across difference, and drive the work forward until it produces concrete results. That is how we rebuild trust in the United Nations and ensure it delivers meaningful change for the people it exists to serve. My vision: https://t.co/G449B8vaTI
— Lana Nusseibeh (@Lana_Nusseibeh) October 22, 2026
