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The United Arab Emirates officially nominated Minister of State Lana Zaki Nusseibeh for the position of United Nations Secretary-General on Wednesday, October 22, 2026.
According to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan formally submitted the nomination via a letter addressed to the President of the UN General Assembly and the President of the UN Security Council, in accordance with the established procedures for selecting and appointing the next UN chief.
The nomination letter highlighted Nusseibeh’s extensive diplomatic experience within the United Nations, her adept handling of contemporary international challenges, and her robust track record of constructive multilateral engagement.
Nusseibeh served as the UAE’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations from 2013 to 2024. During her tenure, she held notable leadership positions, including Vice-President of the General Assembly and President of the Executive Board of UN Women. She also co-chaired efforts to strengthen the work of the General Assembly and reform the Security Council, and presided over the Security Council twice during the UAE’s membership term for 2022–2023. Her diplomatic portfolio has spanned peace and security, humanitarian action, sustainable development, climate-related security risks, gender equality, and international system reform.
The second term of current UN Secretary-General António Guterres concludes on December 31, 2026, after assuming office in 2017. His successor is scheduled to begin a five-year term starting January 1, 2027.
Under the UN Charter, the General Assembly appoints the Secretary-General upon the recommendation of the Security Council. A successful candidate must secure at least nine affirmative votes from the 15-member council, without facing a veto from any of its five permanent members (the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, and France).
The Security Council held its sixth straw poll on October 17, 2026—marking the first ballot using color-coded voting slips to indicate the stances of permanent members. Costa Rica's Rebeca Grynspan topped the unofficial results with nine supportive votes, five opposing, and one abstention, followed by Argentina's Rafael Grossi and Guyana's Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, who secured eight supportive votes each. However, all three candidates received two opposing votes from permanent members, leaving their prospects subject to shifting positions among the P5.
The evolving race features a slate of candidates vying to succeed Guterres before the final selection process concludes later this year.