Lana Zaki Nusseibeh is an Emirati diplomat and candidate for Secretary-General of the United Nations, formally nominated by the United Arab Emirates in October 2026. Born in Abu Dhabi, Nusseibeh studied history at the University of Cambridge and earned a master's degree in Israeli and Jewish Diaspora Studies from SOAS, University of London. She began her career in international affairs, including work with UNESCO, before establishing the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Policy Planning Department in 2009. In 2013, she became the first woman appointed as the UAE's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, serving until 2024. During her tenure, she served as a Vice-President of the UN General Assembly, President of the Executive Board of UN Women, and twice as President of the Security Council. Appointed UAE Minister of State in 2025, Nusseibeh's candidacy focuses on conflict prevention, humanitarian diplomacy, sustainable development, human rights, and institutional reform.
