ABU DHABI / RankWire.AI / – UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye engaged in discussions in Abu Dhabi on September 17. Faye was visiting the United Arab Emirates on a working trip. The two leaders explored their bilateral relationship and talked about enhancing collaboration between the UAE and Senegal. Topics included investment, economic partnership, and development initiatives. They also shared perspectives on regional and global issues of common concern.
Sheikh Mohamed welcomed Faye and highlighted areas where the two nations already work closely together. Economic cooperation was a central focus of the meeting, with both presidents considering opportunities linked to investment and development priorities in their countries. These discussions occurred amidst ongoing official exchanges between Abu Dhabi and Dakar. Throughout 2026, UAE and Senegalese officials have held multiple meetings centered on trade, investment, government collaboration, and preparations for a significant global water conference.
The officials also addressed the upcoming 2026 United Nations Water Conference, which the UAE and Senegal are set to co-host. Scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi from December 8 to 10, the conference aims to accelerate progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 6. This goal advocates for universal access to water and sanitation, as well as sustainable water resource management. Participants will include governments, international organizations, civil society, the private sector, and other stakeholders involved in water policy.
Water summit plays a key role in discussions
The United Nations has organized six interactive sessions for the December event, focusing on water for people, prosperity, the planet, cooperation, multilateral processes, and investment. The agenda will also cover financing, technological advancements, innovation, and capacity building. According to UN data, approximately 2.1 billion individuals still lack access to safely managed drinking water, and around 3.4 billion lack access to safely managed sanitation services. These issues are central to the global challenge addressed by Sustainable Development Goal 6.
This latest presidential meeting follows previous discussions on economic matters between the two nations this month. President Faye met with UAE Minister of Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dakar on September 4. Their conversation focused on strengthening trade and investment ties and expanding cooperation in key sectors. The meeting included a UAE delegation and emphasized commercial opportunities between the two economies. Both parties also discussed areas of mutual economic interest during the Dakar visit.
High-level officials continue bilateral engagement
While in the UAE, Faye also held talks with Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi. Sheikh Mansour is the UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court. Their discussion centered on collaboration in priority areas such as investment and development. They also explored ways to expand their bilateral partnership and exchanged views on issues of shared interest. This meeting added another high-level discussion to Faye’s working visit to the country.
The UAE and Senegal are jointly preparing for the December water conference, with Senegal hosting a high-level preparatory session earlier in 2026 as part of that effort. The Abu Dhabi event will feature plenary sessions alongside six interactive dialogues. Organizers structured the program around the core components of Sustainable Development Goal 6. The discussions from the September 17 presidential talks linked this international agenda with ongoing cooperation between the UAE and Senegal in areas such as investment, economic development, and bilateral relations.