UAE Diplomat Lana Nusseibeh Enters Race for UN Secretary-General

Lana Zaki Nusseibeh, a 48-year-old senior diplomat from the United Arab Emirates, has officially entered the race to succeed UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, whose term ends this year. Her candidacy was submitted by UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed and received immediate, unanimous support from six Gulf Cooperation Council states, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Nusseibeh, born in Abu Dhabi in 1978, hails from a prominent Palestinian family with deep historical ties to Jerusalem. Her father, Zaki Nusseibeh, was a journalist and advisor to Sheikh Zayed, the UAE's founder, and currently serves as the country's cultural advisor. Her grandfather, Anwar Nusseibeh, was a key figure in Palestinian and Jordanian politics, serving as Jordan's defense minister and governor of Jerusalem. Her aunt, Sari Nusseibeh, is a philosopher and former president of Al-Quds University, who also engaged in peace initiatives with former Shin Bet head Ami Ayalon.

Despite her family's political legacy, Nusseibeh initially pursued a different path, studying history at Cambridge and earning a master's degree in Israel and Jewish Diaspora Studies from the University of London, where she was noted for her insightful work on Zionism and Israeli history. She speaks Arabic, English, French, and Hebrew. Nusseibeh began her career in diplomacy, advising UNESCO and researching security and terrorism. She established the UAE's policy planning department in 2009 and became the first Emirati woman ambassador to the UN in 2013, serving in New York for over a decade, including terms as president of the Security Council. She has engaged with Jewish organizations and condemned the October 7th Hamas attacks, while also criticizing Israel's actions in Gaza and opposing the annexation of West Bank territories.

Nusseibeh's late entry into the race is seen as a response to the deadlock in previous straw polls, where leading candidate Rebecca Greenspan secured the necessary votes but faced opposition from permanent Security Council members. The White House, reportedly dissatisfied with the current candidates, is seeking a "disruptive figure" for reform, and Nusseibeh's name has been mentioned as a potential candidate. Brett McGurk, a former US envoy, has publicly endorsed her, citing her effectiveness in facilitating humanitarian aid to Gaza. Historically, late entries have succeeded, such as Kofi Annan's election in 1996. However, Nusseibeh faces challenges, including an informal regional rotation favoring Latin America and criticism of the UAE regarding alleged support for militias in Sudan, which Abu Dhabi denies.

If elected, Nusseibeh would be a historic choice: potentially the first woman, first Muslim, and first person of Palestinian descent to lead the UN. While she has diplomatic ties with Israel through the UAE and an understanding of Jewish history, she has also been involved in international actions critical of Israeli policy in Gaza. Israel is closely monitoring the race, with its UN Ambassador Dani Dayan stating that Israel expects the next Secretary-General to combat antisemitism within the organization. Nusseibeh, a mother of two, emphasizes patience and urgency, learned from her children, and advocates for a UN Security Council that reflects the real world, moving beyond the male-dominated decisions of the past.