UAE and Senegal to host landmark UN Water Conference in Abu Dhabi this December
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs announces final preparations for the UN Water Conference 2026, taking place December 8-10 in partnership with Senegal, marking the first such conference led by two Global South nations.
UAE and Senegal to host landmark UN Water Conference in Abu Dhabi this December
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in partnership with the National Media Authority, held a media briefing on Monday to outline preparations for the UN Water Conference 2026, scheduled for December 8 to 10 in Abu Dhabi. The conference, co-hosted with the Republic of Senegal, represents a historic milestone as the first UN water conference led by two nations from the Global South.
The event builds on momentum from the UN 2023 Water Conference held in New York, which marked the first such gathering in nearly half a century since the 1977 conference in Mar del Plata, Argentina. That 2023 conference generated more than 700 voluntary commitments through the Water Action Agenda and brought together over 6,500 participants to address the global water crisis.
Focus on practical solutions and international partnerships
Abdullah Balalaa, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability, emphasized the conference's significance in translating international commitments into actionable measures. The event will focus on strengthening integration between financing, technology and innovation to develop practical solutions in the water sector, while building international partnerships capable of delivering sustainable impact.
Addressing an urgent global challenge
The conference addresses an urgent global challenge. As of 2024, an estimated 2.2 billion people lack safely managed drinking water, 3.4 billion people lack safely managed sanitation services, and 1.7 billion lack basic hygiene services at home. At the current rate of progress, the world will not achieve sustainable water management until at least 2049, far beyond the 2030 target for Sustainable Development Goal 6.
Balalaa noted that hosting the conference reflects the UAE's commitment to supporting multilateral international action and strengthening global cooperation in addressing water challenges. The partnership with Senegal brings together complementary perspectives on water issues: the UAE contributes expertise in water scarcity, stewardship and innovation, while Senegal offers experience in access, sanitation and clean water challenges.
UAE and Senegal's unique water challenges
The UAE faces unique water security challenges, with Gulf states among the world's highest water consumers per capita at approximately 550 liters daily, while having renewable freshwater resources of less than 100 cubic meters per person annually. Gulf states account for more than half of the world's desalination capacity. The UAE's Water Security Strategy 2036 aims to increase the reuse of treated water to 95 percent and expand storage capacity to secure water supplies.
Senegal, classified by the United Nations as a water-poor country with less than 1,000 cubic meters per capita of freshwater reserves, faces its own challenges. About 25 percent of Senegal's population lacks basic access to water, with water resources highly vulnerable to climate change including droughts and floods.
Strategic coordination and media support
Mohammed Saeed Al Shehhi, Vice-President and Secretary-General of the National Media Authority, described the briefing as reflecting strategic partnership and close coordination among national entities to unify media and communications initiatives supporting the UAE's conference preparations. He said the conference represents an important opportunity to elevate water issues on the international agenda and highlight the UAE's approach to supporting international cooperation and knowledge exchange.
The conference will feature plenary sessions and six interactive dialogues as outlined in UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/78/327. The preparatory process included a high-level international meeting in Dakar, Senegal. The dates were revised from the originally scheduled December 2-4 following a UN General Assembly decision in May 2026.
The event will bring together representatives of governments, international organizations, financial institutions, the private sector, experts and civil society to explore ways of strengthening cooperation, exchanging knowledge and expertise, and developing practical and sustainable solutions for water resource management.
Al Shehhi announced that the National Media Authority is launching an integrated media and awareness campaign that will accompany the UAE's preparations through to the conference opening, providing comprehensive media support to enable organizations to access key information and communicate the significance of the event to audiences in the UAE and internationally.
Balalaa stressed the UAE's commitment to ensuring the 2026 conference becomes a genuine turning point in global climate and water action by accelerating innovation and adopting sustainable technological solutions that safeguard the future of generations to come.
