ABU DHABI / RankWire.AI / – UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan welcomed Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye during his official visit to the United Arab Emirates. Their discussions centered on the state of relations between the two nations and potential avenues for deepening bilateral cooperation. Topics included investment, economic growth, and development initiatives. They also shared perspectives on regional and global issues of mutual concern. This meeting was held in Abu Dhabi on September 17.
During their talks, Sheikh Mohamed and President Faye also examined preparations for the upcoming 2026 United Nations Water Conference. The UAE and Senegal will jointly host the event in Abu Dhabi from December 8 to 10. The conference aims to advance progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 6, which emphasizes universal access to clean water and sanitation. The leaders explored water-related priorities and underscored their significance for economic and social progress both domestically and internationally.
This conference plays a key role in ongoing collaboration between the UAE and Senegal. In May, the United Nations General Assembly approved the new dates, shifting the conference to December 8 through 10. The event will feature plenary sessions and six interactive dialogues that address critical water and sanitation issues. Governments, international organizations, and other accredited stakeholders are actively involved in the preparatory work. Abu Dhabi will host the main sessions of the conference.
Water conference drives bilateral priorities
The September discussions followed prior UAE-Senegal engagements on trade, investment, and development. On September 4, President Faye met with UAE Minister of Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dakar. They examined trade and investment prospects, especially in priority sectors, and considered ways to expand economic collaboration. These dialogues added momentum to a series of official exchanges focused on commercial and developmental partnerships scheduled for 2026.
Additionally, President Faye held talks with Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi during his recent visit to the UAE. Sheikh Mansour is the UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court. Their conversations covered investment opportunities, developmental cooperation, and strategies to strengthen bilateral ties. They also exchanged views on issues of shared interest, reinforcing the broader agenda discussed during President Faye’s meeting with Sheikh Mohamed.
Economic collaboration remains at the forefront
Relations between the UAE and Senegal have seen a marked increase in discussions on investment, trade, and development this year. Officials from both nations have convened in Abu Dhabi and Dakar to explore opportunities. Both governments have collaborated on preparations for the United Nations Water Conference, with Senegal hosting a high-level preparatory session in Dakar earlier in 2026. This process brought together governments and key stakeholders to identify priorities ahead of the December conference in the UAE.
The conference aims to speed up the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 6, which focuses on water and sanitation. United Nations data reveal that billions of people worldwide still lack access to safely managed drinking water or sanitation services. The event will address issues related to funding, cooperation, environmental challenges, and water accessibility. For the UAE and Senegal, this gathering signifies a significant joint international effort within their broader relationship encompassing economic, investment, and developmental collaborations.