On 3rd March 2025, the United Arab Emirates and Senegal, co-hosts of the 2026 UN Water Conference, convened the Organisational Session at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
This session marked a significant step in addressing global water challenges and advancing Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) – ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
The session allowed Member States and stakeholders to share insights on six interactive dialogue themes that will shape the 2026 Conference. High-level speeches were delivered by Abdulla Ahmed Balalaa, UAE Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability, and Cheikh Tidiane Dieye, Senegal Minister of Hydraulics and Sanitation. Both leaders emphasized their nations' commitment to fostering an inclusive preparatory process to drive impactful outcomes.
Balalaa highlighted the UAE’s dedication to innovative water solutions, stating,
“We are committed to accelerating global water action through knowledge sharing, investment, and technological advancements.” Dieye underscored the urgency of action, calling the Conference a “historic opportunity to turn commitments into concrete actions.”
The session saw participation from 72 stakeholders, including representatives from UN entities, NGOs, and the private sector. Li Junhua, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, and Alvaro Lario, UN Water Chair, were among the notable attendees.
With 2.2 billion people lacking clean drinking water and 4 billion experiencing severe water scarcity, the UAE and Senegal urged global collaboration to accelerate water action. The next milestone will be the finalisation of the interactive dialogue themes in July 2025, paving the way for the high-level preparatory meeting in Dakar ahead of the December Conference.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
