UK Weighs Support for UAE Diplomat in UN Secretary-General Race

The United Kingdom is moving closer to endorsing Lana Nusseibeh as the next United Nations secretary-general, a decision that would place an Emirati diplomat at the head of the global body. Multiple sources close to the British government told Middle East Eye that London favors her candidacy, though a final vote has not yet been cast. Nusseibeh, 48, would become the first woman and only second Arab to hold the post if selected.

The UK’s potential support lands amid strained relations between London and Abu Dhabi. Last month, Manchester City Football Club, owned by Emirati Vice President Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, was found to have breached 114 Premier League financial rules by disguising more than £830 million in illicit funding. Emirati officials reportedly threatened to cancel British investments in response to the club's sanctions, creating a backdrop of friction for the UN nomination.

Nusseibeh launched her campaign last week after six informal polls failed to produce a candidate with the backing of all five permanent Security Council members. Her entry into the race follows the tenure of Antonio Guterres, who is scheduled to end his term in December. The Security Council must agree on a nominee for the General Assembly, but it remains unclear if a decision will be reached before his departure.

Critics point to the UAE's role in Sudan’s civil war as a complication for Nusseibeh’s bid. UN investigators described mass killings by the Rapid Support Forces as bearing the hallmarks of genocide, while the UAE denies supporting the paramilitary group. The UK announced on Monday that it is sanctioning 15 senior commanders from both the RSF and Sudanese Armed Forces for suspected atrocities, including conflict-related sexual violence.

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband noted that one year after the Al Fasher massacre, investigations show rape and starvation remain weaponized in Sudan. He stated that external backers must end their support for the warring parties. Nusseibeh’s candidacy also faces scrutiny over the UAE's close ties with Israel, though she has urged Tel Aviv to suspend plans to annex parts of the West Bank.

Born in 1978 to a Palestinian family from Jerusalem, Nusseibeh served as the UAE’s first female permanent representative to the UN from 2013 to 2024. She previously worked as a Unesco consultant and founded the UAE foreign ministry's policy planning department. Her grandfather, Anwar Nusseibeh, held ministerial posts in Jordan and served as its ambassador to Britain.

In a statement launching her campaign, Nusseibeh said she is standing to act with greater urgency and drive the organization's work forward until it produces concrete results. The British Foreign Office did not reply to a request for comment by the time of publication.