He said the UAE had rejected the allegations as media claims and denied supplying weapons or financial support to the RSF.

An Emirati diplomat of Palestinian descent, Lana Nusseibeh has emerged as a contender in the race to become the next United Nations secretary-general, campaigning on a reform agenda and pledging to prioritise peace and human rights.

Since her official nomination on Wednesday, she has received backing from Gulf states while facing scrutiny over the United Arab Emirates’ normalisation of relations with Israel and allegations of its involvement in Sudan’s conflict.

If elected, Nusseibeh would become the first woman and the second Arab to hold the UN’s top position, marking a significant diplomatic achievement for the UAE.

In a campaign video, Nusseibeh pledged to “bring greater urgency to the work for peace” and “defend human rights”. Speaking fluent English with a slight British accent, she presented herself as a candidate committed to reforming the international organisation.

The 48-year-old diplomat previously served as the UAE’s state minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and as the country’s envoy to the UN and European Union. She stepped down from those roles to campaign for the secretary-general position.

Emirati political science academic Abdulkhaleq Abdulla described her as an experienced diplomat with a strong professional background, saying she represented the strengths of UAE diplomacy.

Nusseibeh served as the UAE’s permanent representative to the United Nations from 2013 to 2024, becoming the first woman to hold the position.

Nickolay Mladenov, the high representative for Gaza under the US-backed Board of Peace, praised her diplomatic approach, saying she “does not give up when the room gets difficult”.

Palestinian Roots and Family Background

Nusseibeh comes from a prominent Palestinian family displaced following the creation of Israel in 1948. Her family traditionally held the keys to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem’s Old City.

Despite her Palestinian heritage, she has defended the Abraham Accords, under which the UAE normalised relations with Israel in 2020. The agreement has drawn criticism from pro-Palestinian activists and commentators.

Her grandfather served as Jordan’s defence minister in the 1950s and was among the early Palestinians to establish contact with Israelis.

Her father, Zaki Nusseibeh, served as an adviser and interpreter to the UAE’s founding president, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. He currently serves as cultural adviser to the UAE president and has also held ministerial office.

Nusseibeh has two sons and holds two master’s degrees, including one in Israeli and Jewish diaspora studies from the University of London.

UAE Faces Scrutiny Over Sudan Conflict

Nusseibeh’s candidacy has also drawn criticism over allegations that the UAE has supported Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Abu Dhabi has repeatedly denied providing arms or financing to the group.

Sudan has been engulfed in conflict between the national army and the RSF since April 2023, triggering a humanitarian crisis that the United Nations has described as one of the world’s worst.

“There is no candidate that is short of criticism,” Abdulla told AFP, adding that the Sudan issue would have to be addressed during the campaign.

He said the UAE had rejected the allegations as media claims and denied supplying weapons or financial support to the RSF.

Regional Rotation and Security Council Vetoes

Traditionally, the UN secretary-general’s position has rotated among different regional groups. Under that approach, the role would be expected to go to a candidate from Latin America in the next selection process.

However, US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz has argued that the selection should focus on choosing the “best candidate” rather than prioritising regional representation or gender.

The selection process remains uncertain. In an informal straw poll held the previous week to assess the candidates, all seven contenders reportedly received at least two vetoes.

Five of the 15 members of the UN Security Council hold permanent seats with veto power. Any candidate opposed by one of these five countries can be blocked from advancing to the final selection process.

Nusseibeh’s campaign will therefore depend not only on her diplomatic credentials and reform agenda but also on whether she can secure sufficient support among influential Security Council members.