UAE and Senegal to Co-Host 2026 UN Water Conference

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Senegal will co-host the 2026 UN Water Conference on December 2-4, 2026, to accelerate efforts toward achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6): access to clean water and sanitation for all. 

The global event will convene leaders, policy makers, scientists, and representatives of civil society to discuss the world’s most pressing water challenges, from limited access to water and pollution to water stress related to climate change. 

A Bridge Between Regions 

This partnership demonstrates the potential of collaboration between developed and developing countries. The UAE contributes considerable global climate leadership and technology while Senegal provides regional experience and a strong African perspective. Collectively, they illustrate a model of cross-regional collaboration to address common challenges.

Significance of the Conference 

Water scarcity and sanitation gaps continue to present significant global challenges. The UN has reported that 2.2 billion people globally still lack safe drinking water. The impact of climate change in the form of increasing droughts and floods is putting more and more pressure on the world’s water systems.  

The conference in 2026 is looking to establish concrete commitments, enhance cooperation over shared resources, and expand innovative financing for water projects.  

Read Also : Senegalese Prime Minister’s UAE Visit Strengthens Port, Power and Education Ties

Masdar’s Work in Senegal 

The UAE’s impact is already happening on the ground in Senegal. Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company, is implementing battery storage solutions to improve energy stability in the country. 

This energy backbone supports water security directly. Reliable electricity is a must-have for pumping water, treating water, and moving water, so expanding renewable energy options is integrally connected to meeting, in particular, SDG 6. Masdar’s projects in Senegal are part of the UAE’s larger trajectory of supporting “clean energy” and “water access” across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Anticipating Future Conference

The 2026 UN Water Conference in Dakar and Abu Dhabi is anticipated to present ambitious targets for the governments, the private sector, and NGOs alike. The conference has the potential to be a pivotal moment in addressing one of humanity’s greatest challenges by coordinating access to clean energy and linking it to access to water.

With the combined leadership of the UAE and Senegal, the world will be looking to the conference to present tangible, scalable solutions and real progress.