The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Senegal recently took major steps to address the world’s water challenges during the Organizational Session for the 2026 UN Water Conference, held on March 3, 2025, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The session brought together the international community, providing Member States and stakeholders with the opportunity to share insights and recommendations for the six interactive dialogues scheduled to guide the upcoming conference.
The conference aims to tackle global water issues and accelerate progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6), which focuses on ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. Opening the session, H.E. Abdulla Ahmed Balalaa, UAE Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability, underscored the UAE's commitment to tackling these pressing issues. He stated, "For the UAE, water shapes our history, our present, and our future, fostering deep resilience, resourcefulness, and ingenuity. We are committed to accelerating innovative and inclusive global water action through expanded knowledge sharing and international cooperation, and by scaling technological solutions for the benefit of all."
Senegal's Minister of Hydraulics and Sanitation, H.E. Cheikh Tidiane Dieye, highlighted the importance of action over dialogue. "The 2026 UN Water Conference embodies a pivotal moment for humanity, a meeting with our collective future, and is a historic opportunity to turn our commitments to water and sanitation action," Dieye said. He urged nations to take advantage of this platform to engage inclusively and to participate actively, ensuring every voice is heard. "We must, for this we cannot reflect forever, we must act," Dieye insisted.
The need for attention to water management has never been clearer: currently, 2.2 billion people lack access to clean drinking water, and 3.5 billion lack safely managed sanitation services. Compounding this issue, approximately 4 billion people experience severe water scarcity for at least one month every year. This staggering data highlights the urgency for global cooperation and the implementation of action-oriented strategies to address these challenges.
During the Organizational Session, which saw attendance from 72 participants, including 26 stakeholders from UN entities, NGOs, civil society, and the private sector, the emphasis was placed on mobilizing diverse actors across the globe to contribute to sustainable water solutions. The discussions and recommendations yielded during this session will inform the preparation of the conference themes and the high-level dialogue planned for the conference.
Following the Organizational Session, the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) will prepare a background note outlining the proposed themes for the conference. This note will be developed in consultation with Member States and supported by UN-Water and other relevant UN entities. Notably, the themes will be finalized during a special one-day meeting arranged by the President of the General Assembly on July 9, 2025.
To build momentum toward implementation, the specific dialogues will be structured around major water management topics, including accessibility, sustainability, and innovation. With the co-hosts' leadership, there is optimism about fostering partnerships to develop actionable solutions. Preparations for the high-level meeting scheduled to occur before the conference are already underway in Dakar, indicating proactive steps toward addressing global water challenges.
The 2026 UN Water Conference is set to serve as a landmark assembly with the intent of uniting stakeholders to address the urgent requirement for water regulation and governance responses globally. It's hoped this collaborative effort will facilitate enhanced investment, innovation, and the necessary policy frameworks to support sustainable water practices.
Access to water resources is pivotal not only for well-being and health but also for the broader economic and political stability of nations. Both the UAE and Senegal recognize water as the key enabler for achieving all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), underscoring the interlinked nature of water with food security, public health, and disaster resilience.
Considering the implementation challenges and on-the-ground realities, the co-hosts have invited all sectors, including governments, NGOs, civil society, financing institutions, academia, and local communities to raise their collective ambition and join forces to accelerate global water actions. Both leaders have reiterated the importance of shared responsibility, and their vision is clear: transformative change is necessary not just for our present situation but for future generations.
The UAE is honored to be partnering with Senegal for this conference, which marks the first of its kind on such a scale and significance. With inclusive dialogue and innovative actions at its core, the conference aims for tangible results, as leaders focus on concrete steps likely to impact millions worldwide.
Efforts to conserve water resources must transition from discussions to tangible outcomes, according to leaders at the session. With the right commitments and actions, they argue, nations can reverse trends, improve the conditions surrounding water access, and facilitate effective solutions to the many challenges facing humanity. The 2026 UN Water Conference stands as the beacon of hope rallying the international community toward unified action for some of the most pressing issues of our time.