Abu dhabi: The UAE and Senegal, as Co-Hosts of the 2026 UN Water Conference, recently held a virtual high-level meeting with ministers and senior representatives from the twelve countries co-chairing the conference's six Interactive Dialogues. This gathering marks the second high-level meeting following the initial Preparatory Meeting in Dakar, Senegal, earlier this year.
According to Emirates News Agency, the meeting aimed to strengthen political alignment and enhance coherence across key priorities while reviewing progress in the preparation of each Interactive Dialogue. The participants discussed strategies to elevate water on the global agenda, sustain political momentum, mobilize resources, and drive coordinated long-term action.
Abdulla Balalaa, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability, emphasized the UAE's unwavering commitment to delivering a successful conference despite current global challenges. He highlighted the unprecedented nature of their collaborative efforts and expressed confidence in achieving transformative outcomes at the 2026 UN Water Conference in Abu Dhabi.
Cheikh Tidiane Dieye, Senegal's Minister of Hydraulics and Sanitation, stressed the importance of positioning water as a driver of peace, solidarity, and development, especially given the world's evolving challenges. He called for effective cooperation, innovative investment, and responsible multilateralism to secure the future of water resources for both people and the planet.
The meeting builds on two months of sustained technical engagement between the Co-Hosts and the Co-Chairs. Recently, technical focal points from all twelve Co-Chairs convened in Rome during the 43rd UN-Water Meeting to present their work plans and strengthen coordination with the UN system.
The 2026 UN Water Conference, set to take place in Abu Dhabi, aims to accelerate the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 6, which focuses on ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. The Co-Chairs of the Interactive Dialogues, selected earlier this year, include Ghana and Switzerland for Water for People; China and Spain for Water for Prosperity; Egypt and Japan for Water for Planet; Finland and Zambia for Water for Cooperation; Germany and Mexico for Water in Multilateral Processes; and France and South Africa for Investments for Water.