The UAE participated in productive discussions with key stakeholders from Africa and the international community regarding the UN 2026 Water Conference during the 7th Cairo Water Week (October 13th – 17th), which also coincided with the 9th Africa Water Week.
These discussions are part of the preparatory process leading up to the UN Water Conference in December 2026, emphasizing the importance of engaging all relevant stakeholder groups across various sectors. The conversations underscored the necessity of transitioning from commitments to implementation to accelerate progress on Sustainable Development Goal 6, which focuses on clean water and sanitation, as well as the broader 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.
A high-level session co-organized by the United Arab Emirates, the Arab Republic of Egypt, and the Republic of Senegal on the “Aspirations for the UN 2026 Water Conference”, was attended by ministers from Iraq, Nigeria, Senegal, and South Africa, and high-level senior representatives from the governments of Japan, the Netherlands, and the European Union. Key non-state actors also took part in the session, including UN entities, NGOs, private sector, and civil society. Participants shared their priorities and desired outcomes of the Conference, underscoring water as a fundamental driver of sustainable development.
At the session, Ms. Shaima Gargash, UAE Director of Energy and Sustainability Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said “The UN 2026 Water Conference presents a valuable opportunity to develop innovative solutions and reimagine approaches to advance efforts tackling the global water challenges. Water should be seen as a fundamental driver for sustainable development, and accelerating progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 6 is essential for achieving all objectives in the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and beyond.”
HE Cheikh Tidiane Dièye, Senegal’s Minister of Hydraulics and Sanitation, further emphasized that “Senegal is committed to ensuring that this process creates lasting impact and prepares the groundwork for a transformative conference in 2026. We cannot act alone - the success of our global water ambitions depends on collective engagement and cooperation. Together, we will turn our vision into reality, ensuring that future generations inherit a world where water flows freely and abundantly for all.”
His Excellency also stressed that Senegal is looking forward to convening the high-level preparatory meeting for the UN 2026 Water Conference in Dakar in 2025.
At the session, HE Pemmy Majodina, South Africa’s Minister of Water and Sanitation, announced that South Africa will be organizing the AU-Africa Water Investment Summit in 2025 in the context of the upcoming G20 Presidency, and that the country encourages all stakeholders to regard this as an important milestone on the road to the UN 2026 Water Conference.
Other UAE engagements included participation in sessions addressing the interlinkages between water and climate, highlighting COP28’s efforts to elevate water within the climate agenda, due to its significant role in climate action. The discussions also highlighted desalination efforts and the UAE’s efforts in advancing and prioritizing desalination technology, particularly through the recently launched Mohamed Bin Zayed Water Initiative (MBZWI), and its first major initiative in partnership with XPRIZE. Earlier this year, MBZWI partnered with XPRIZE, with an investment of $150 million to launch the XPRIZE Water Scarcity competition, which has a total prize purse of $119 million. The goal is to encourage innovators worldwide to provide efficient and sustainable solutions that enhance the efficiency of de-salination technology.
The seventh edition of Cairo Water Week was convened under the theme “Water and Climate: Building Resilient Communities”, and was organized by the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation (MWRI) of the Arab Republic of Egypt. The 9th Africa Water Week and the 2024 Cairo Water Week were organized jointly this year.
