ABU DHABI / RankWire.AI / – UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye conducted discussions in Abu Dhabi on September 17. Faye was visiting the United Arab Emirates on an official trip. The two leaders assessed their bilateral ties and explored avenues for enhanced collaboration between the UAE and Senegal. Their dialogue encompassed topics such as investment, economic development, and regional as well as global issues of mutual concern.
Sheikh Mohamed expressed his welcome to Faye and highlighted areas where their countries already work closely together. A significant focus was placed on economic relations, with both leaders analyzing prospects related to investment and development strategies in their respective nations. This interaction occurred amid frequent official exchanges between Abu Dhabi and Dakar, with UAE and Senegalese officials engaging in multiple meetings in 2026 centered on trade, investment, government cooperation, and preparations for a prominent global water conference.
The discussion also covered the upcoming 2026 United Nations Water Conference, which the UAE and Senegal will jointly host. Scheduled to be held in Abu Dhabi from December 8 to 10, the event aims to accelerate progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 6. This goal emphasizes universal access to water and sanitation, along with sustainable water resource management. The conference will convene governments, international organizations, civil society, corporations, and other stakeholders involved in water policy.
Water summit takes center stage in discussions
The United Nations has organized six interactive sessions for the December gathering. These dialogues will focus on water for people, prosperity, the planet, cooperation, multilateral processes, and investment. Topics such as financing, technology, innovation, and capacity building will also feature prominently. UN data indicates that approximately 2.1 billion individuals worldwide lack access to safely managed drinking water, while around 3.4 billion people do not have access to safely managed sanitation services. These figures highlight the ongoing global development challenges addressed through Sustainable Development Goal 6.
This latest high-level meeting between presidents follows several economic discussions held earlier this month. On September 4, President Faye met with UAE Minister of Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dakar. Their talks focused on strengthening trade and investment ties and expanding cooperation in key sectors. The meeting, which involved a UAE delegation, centered on exploring commercial opportunities between the two economies. Both sides also exchanged views on areas of shared economic interest during the Dakar visit.
Senior officials maintain ongoing bilateral dialogue
During his visit to the UAE, Faye also held discussions with Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi. Sheikh Mansour holds the roles of UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court. Their meeting focused on cooperation in priority sectors, especially investment and development, with both leaders exploring ways to deepen their partnership and exchanging perspectives on issues of mutual interest. This added another high-level discussion to Faye’s working visit to the country.
Furthermore, the UAE and Senegal are collaboratively preparing for the December water conference. Earlier in 2026, Senegal hosted a high-level preparatory session in Dakar as part of this process. The Abu Dhabi event will feature plenary sessions alongside the six interactive dialogues. Organizers designed the agenda around the core elements of Sustainable Development Goal 6. The discussions from September 17 linked the international agenda with ongoing UAE-Senegal cooperation in areas such as investment, economic development, and bilateral relations.