Britain Prepares to Back 48-Year-Old Diplomat for UN Top Post

The United Kingdom is moving toward a decision to support Lana Nusseibeh for the role of United Nations secretary-general.

According to multiple sources close to the British government, London is leaning toward backing the Emirati diplomat for the post. A final determination has not yet been made. The UK Foreign Office has not responded to requests for comment by the time of publication.

Nusseibeh, 48, entered the race last week after six informal straw polls failed to secure the support of the five permanent members of the Security Council. Those members are the United Kingdom, the United States, Russia, China, and France. If selected, she would become the first woman to lead the organization. She would also be the second Arab to hold the position, following Egypt’s Boutros Boutros-Ghali.

The potential British endorsement arrives amid strained relations between the two nations. Last month, a report found that Manchester City Football Club breached 114 Premier League financial rules. The club is owned by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, an Emirati royal and vice-president. The investigation determined the club disguised more than £830 million in illicit funding. The club denies the findings, and Emirati officials have reportedly threatened to cancel investments in Britain in response.

Sources indicate that backing Nusseibeh could generate goodwill with the UAE. This diplomatic move may help ease tensions while the UK seeks to manage its broader relationship with the Gulf state.

Nusseibeh’s candidacy has drawn criticism due to the UAE’s involvement in the Sudanese civil war. The country is accused of supporting the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. UN investigators state that mass killings by the RSF bear the hallmarks of genocide. The UAE denies these allegations. Additionally, observers have raised concerns about the UAE’s close ties with Israel.

On Monday, the UK announced sanctions against 15 senior commanders from both the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces. The measures target individuals for suspected atrocities, including conflict-related sexual violence. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband stated that investigations funded by the UK show rape and starvation are still being used against the people of Sudan. He called for accountability and an end to external support for the warring parties.

Nusseibeh was born in 1978 and has a background in international policy. She worked as a Unesco consultant and an analyst at the Gulf Research Centre before joining the UAE foreign ministry. She served as the UAE’s first female permanent representative to the UN from 2013 to 2024. During that tenure, she held vice-presidency of the General Assembly, presidency of the UN Women executive board, and twice served as president of the Security Council.

Her family is of Palestinian heritage and originates from Jerusalem. Her grandfather, Anwar Nusseibeh, held ministerial posts in Jordan’s government and served as ambassador to Britain. Colin Shindler, an emeritus professor of Israeli studies at Soas, taught Nusseibeh when she was a student. He noted that she completed a master’s in Israeli studies and wrote insightful essays on Zionism and Israeli history. He also described her as instrumental in the Abraham Accords normalization deal.

In a statement launching her campaign last week, Nusseibeh said she is running because she believes the current moment requires acting with greater urgency. She emphasized the need to bring people together across difference and to drive work forward until it produces concrete results. The current secretary-general, Antonio Guterres, will end his term in December. The Security Council must agree on a candidate for the 193-member General Assembly to approve, though it remains unclear if a decision will be reached before that date.