The United Arab Emirates has officially put forward veteran diplomat Lana Nusseibeh as a candidate for the next UN Secretary-General. Nominated by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Nusseibeh—the former UAE ambassador to the UN—aims to become the first woman to lead the international body and only the second Arab to hold the post, following Egypt’s Boutros Boutros-Ghali. The selection process is set to become highly competitive as current leader Antonio Guterres prepares to step down at the end of 2026. Securing the position will require navigating the complex politics of the Security Council, where a candidate must earn nine votes while avoiding a veto from any of the five permanent members before heading to the General Assembly for final confirmation.

Lana Nusseibeh is currently one of five high-profile female candidates vying for the top role. The field includes an impressive array of seasoned international figures, such as Ivonne A-Baki, a veteran peace negotiator nominated by Tonga; María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, a former Ecuadorian foreign minister backed by Antigua and Barbuda; Rebeca Grynspan, the current head of UNCTAD nominated by Costa Rica; and Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the UN. Each of these candidates brings extensive experience in diplomacy, conflict resolution, and global policy, highlighting a growing push to potentially see a woman take the helm of the United Nations for the first time in its history.