UAE diplomat Lana Nusseibeh vows to rebuild trust in bid for UN top job

Conflicts around the world are becoming increasingly complex, amid declining trust between parties, placing the United Nations before major challenges, particularly in the post-term era of current Secretary-General António Guterres, whose tenure ends on December 31, 2026.

The international community is facing a growing number of crises and violent conflicts, from Gaza to Ukraine, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

These are compounded by the consequences of climate change, manifested in droughts, heavy rainfall and floods, which are becoming increasingly severe, as well as the continued decline in biodiversity.

Although various United Nations organisations have achieved considerable progress in combating poverty over decades of work, many regions continue to suffer from it.

Today, the world is undergoing an unprecedented fundamental transformation amid the artificial intelligence revolution.

This technology has moved beyond being merely a set of supporting software tools to become an integrated, vital system reshaping the structure of societies and economies, and even the way human beings think.

Against this backdrop, Emirati Lana Nusseibeh says she's running for the post of UN Secretary-General, bringing extensive experience in this field and presenting her vision for addressing these challenges during a session dedicated to an interactive dialogue on her vision on October 27, 2026.

During an interactive dialogue, Lana said: “Artificial intelligence will either level the playing field or divide us profoundly. We must agree on principles and broaden access to this technology. We must also determine and ensure that those who stand to benefit the most are ultimately the ones who do.”

Her vision draws on this approach to addressing the challenges of a changing world, encompassing development, technology, climate and international partnerships.

Her country has developed a vision for confronting a changing global landscape, preparing for it through the establishment of diverse economic partnerships and careful long-term planning, while diversifying its political and strategic partnerships.

The UAE has expressed its desire to establish a just global peace that respects the rights of all countries, protects civilians from the devastating effects of wars, and preserves economic stability, which is a key foundation for the continuity of societal development.

Building on this vision, Lana said: “The United Nations that I will lead will be judged by what each country is able to determine for itself, not by what the system imposes. We must prioritise fulfilling our commitments under the Charter and advancing better lives with greater freedom.”

“Others need sustained support to build institutions and deliver essential services. Many need both types of support. I will champion fairer solutions, debt relief, decent work and expanded development opportunities in vulnerable contexts. I pledge to revitalise the way this organisation operates through business and philanthropy.”

She added: “The Charter reminds us that international peace and security rest on the recognition of the value and dignity of every human being. The Charter and the United Nations are not philosophical aspirations, but binding commitments, and the credibility of our organisation depends on their consistent implementation. As Secretary-General, I will defend human rights resolutely and without double standards.”

The Emirati candidate said she would act early, before conflicts escalate into wars, stressing that the organisation needs to rebuild trust.

She noted that the Secretary-General has neither an army nor a vote in the Security Council, but possesses the power of trust and the capacity to mediate.

She added that she wanted to be a driving force in mediation efforts, noting that Sudan would be one of the key tests of the next Secretary-General’s success.

In another context, she said that “three forces will shape this effort”, stressing: “More than one billion young people in developing countries will enter the workforce over the next decade. This is a reality we must not forget in our work across security and peace, development and human rights alike.” These remarks formed part of her vision for addressing the challenge of extreme poverty.

Noting that the heaviest burdens fall on the poorest countries, Lana Nusseibeh said she would “prioritise prevention and early responses to disasters. The United Nations Charter begins by reaffirming faith in fundamental human rights. The Charter reminds us that international peace and security rest on the recognition of the value and dignity of every human being.”

She pledged to revitalise the way the organisation operates through business and philanthropy. She said the United Nations was under pressure but that she believed in its purpose, adding that she would work with partners to build trust, revitalise the organisation through philanthropy, and recognise the value and dignity of every human being.

She explained that she would defend human rights resolutely and without double standards, warning that for every “promise the organisation fails to fulfil, we will pay the price with what we hold most dear.”

Meanwhile, all six Gulf Cooperation Council countries, along with Jordan, Mauritania, Palestine, Palau, Montenegro and Georgia, have announced their support for Lana’s candidacy.

They have praised her extensive diplomatic record and UN experience, her ability to build consensus, and her commitment to peace and dialogue in resolving crises, describing her as an ideal choice to lead the international organisation.

Lana has extensive experience in this field. In 2013, she became the first Emirati woman to serve as her country’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, a position she held until April 2024. She has served as a Minister of State since September 2025.

Previously, she was appointed Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Political Affairs in February 2021 and was accorded ministerial rank by federal decree in December of the same year.

She also presided over Security Council sessions during the UAE’s two presidencies of the Council while serving as a member in 2022 and 2023.

She managed files relating to peace and security, humanitarian affairs, sustainable development, security risks associated with climate change, women’s affairs and reform of the multilateral system.

Nusseibeh chaired the Executive Board of UN Women in 2017 and served as a Vice-President of the General Assembly during its 72nd session. She also co-chaired the intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform.

Since 2015, she has also co-chaired, alongside the United Kingdom, the Group of Friends of the Future of the United Nations, an informal forum for exchanging views on issues affecting the organisation’s future, according to information published by the ministry in 2024.

She served as the UAE’s co-special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan in 2010 and 2011, and as a deputy to the UAE’s G20 Sherpa during France’s presidency of the group in 2011.