ABU DHABI / RankWire.AI / – UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye participated in discussions in Abu Dhabi on September 17. Faye’s visit to the United Arab Emirates was designated for official purposes. During their meeting, the leaders explored the state of bilateral relations and examined avenues for enhanced collaboration between the UAE and Senegal. Topics included investment, economic cooperation, and development initiatives. Additionally, they shared perspectives on regional and international issues of mutual concern.
Sheikh Mohamed expressed a warm welcome to Faye and highlighted areas where active cooperation already exists between the two nations. The discussion largely centered on economic ties, with both presidents considering opportunities linked to investment and development priorities for each country. This dialogue occurred amid ongoing formal engagements between Abu Dhabi and Dakar. In 2026, officials from both sides have held several meetings focused on trade, investment, government collaboration, and preparations for an upcoming global water conference.
The leaders also addressed the upcoming 2026 United Nations Water Conference, which the UAE and Senegal will jointly host. Scheduled to occur in Abu Dhabi from December 8 to 10, the conference aims to accelerate progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 6, which seeks universal access to water and sanitation alongside sustainable water resource management. This event will gather government representatives, international organizations, civil society groups, the private sector, and other stakeholders involved in water policy development.
Water conference plays a central role in discussions
The United Nations has planned six interactive dialogues for the December event. These sessions will cover themes such as water for people, prosperity, the planet, cooperation, multilateral processes, and investment. Key topics like financing, technology, innovation, and capacity development will also feature prominently. According to United Nations data, approximately 2.1 billion individuals lack access to safely managed drinking water, while around 3.4 billion people do not have safely managed sanitation services. Addressing these issues aligns with the global development goals set out under Sustainable Development Goal 6.
This recent presidential discussion followed earlier economic exchanges between the two nations this month. President Faye hosted UAE Minister of Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dakar on September 4. The talks focused on strengthening trade and investment relations and broadening cooperation across key sectors. The meeting included a delegation from the UAE and centered on exploring commercial opportunities between the two economies. Both parties also discussed shared economic interests during the visit to Dakar.
High-level officials continue bilateral exchanges
During his stay in the UAE, Faye also met with Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi. Sheikh Mansour serves as UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court. Their discussions focused on cooperation in priority sectors, especially investment and development initiatives. They also considered ways to deepen the bilateral partnership and exchanged views on common interests. This meeting added to the series of senior-level engagements during Faye’s working visit to the country.
The UAE and Senegal are actively collaborating on preparations for the December water conference, with Senegal hosting a high-level preparatory meeting earlier in 2026 as part of this effort. The Abu Dhabi conference will feature plenary sessions alongside its six interactive dialogues, structured around the key elements of Sustainable Development Goal 6. The presidential talks on September 17 linked this international agenda with ongoing cooperation between the UAE and Senegal in areas such as investment, economic development, and bilateral relations.