ABU DHABI / RankWire.AI / – UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye held discussions in Abu Dhabi on September 17, with Faye visiting the United Arab Emirates for an official working trip. During their meeting, the leaders reviewed the state of bilateral relations and explored avenues for expanding cooperation between the UAE and Senegal, with their conversations encompassing topics such as investment, economic partnerships, and development efforts, alongside exchange of views on regional and international issues of mutual relevance.
Sheikh Mohamed welcomed Faye and examined existing areas of active collaboration between the two nations, emphasizing that economic relations played a significant role in their dialogue. The presidents focused on identifying investment opportunities and development priorities relevant to both countries, set against a backdrop of ongoing official engagements between Abu Dhabi and Dakar, including several meetings in 2026 centered on trade, investment, government cooperation, and preparations for a major global water conference.
In addition, the leaders discussed the upcoming 2026 United Nations Water Conference, which will be jointly hosted by the UAE and Senegal. The conference is scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi from December 8 to 10 and will aim to accelerate progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 6, which advocates for universal access to water and sanitation, as well as sustainable water resource management. This event will gather governments, international organizations, civil society, private sector entities, and other stakeholders involved in water policy to collaborate on solutions.
Water summit assumes a key role in discussions
The United Nations has organized six interactive dialogues for the December conference, focusing on water’s role in fostering human prosperity, protecting the planet, promoting cooperation, and supporting multilateral processes and investments. These sessions will also address financing, technological innovation, and capacity building. According to UN data, approximately 2.1 billion people still lack access to safely managed drinking water, while around 3.4 billion lack access to safely managed sanitation services. These figures highlight the global challenge addressed through Sustainable Development Goal 6.
The recent presidential discussion followed other economic exchanges earlier this month, including a meeting in Dakar on September 4, where President Faye received UAE Minister of Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi. Their talks focused on strengthening trade, boosting investment, and enhancing cooperation in key sectors, with the delegation from the UAE emphasizing commercial opportunities and areas of mutual economic interest during this engagement.
High-level officials continue to foster bilateral relations
Throughout his visit to the UAE, Faye also held discussions with Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi, who serves as UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court. The two officials addressed areas of cooperation, especially focusing on investment and development, while exploring ways to deepen their bilateral partnership and sharing perspectives on mutual interests, thereby adding another layer of senior-level engagement during Faye’s working trip.
Furthermore, the UAE and Senegal are actively collaborating in the preparatory phase for the December water conference. Earlier in 2026, Senegal hosted a high-level preparatory meeting in Dakar as part of that process. The Abu Dhabi event will feature plenary sessions alongside the six interactive dialogues, all designed around the core elements of Sustainable Development Goal 6. The discussions on September 17 linked this international agenda with ongoing cooperation between the two nations in areas of investment, economic development, and bilateral relations, illustrating their shared commitment to water and sustainable development goals.