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 countries’ bilateral relations and considered avenues for enhanced cooperation between the UAE and Senegal. Their dialogue primarily focused on investment opportunities, economic collaboration, and developmental initiatives. Additionally, they exchanged perspectives on regional and global issues of mutual significance.
Sheikh Mohamed expressed a warm welcome to Faye and highlighted existing areas of active cooperation. Economic ties featured prominently during their meeting, with both presidents analyzing prospects linked to investment and developmental priorities in their respective nations. The discussions took place amidst ongoing formal exchanges between Abu Dhabi and Dakar, as UAE and Senegalese officials convened multiple times in 2026 to discuss trade, investment, governmental collaboration, and preparations for a significant international water conference.
The discussion also covered the upcoming 2026 United Nations Water Conference, which the UAE and Senegal are set to co-host. Scheduled to be held in Abu Dhabi from December 8 to 10, the event aims to advance progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 6, which emphasizes universal water and sanitation access and sustainable water management. The conference will gather representatives from governments, international organizations, civil society, the private sector, and other stakeholders involved in water policy.
Water Summit Plays Central Role in Diplomatic Discussions
As part of preparations for the December conference, the United Nations has organized six interactive dialogues. These sessions will address themes such as water for people, prosperity, the planet, cooperation, multilateral processes, and investment. Topics on the agenda also include financing, technological innovation, and capacity building. According to UN statistics, approximately 2.1 billion individuals still lack access to safely managed drinking water, while about 3.4 billion lack safely managed sanitation services. These figures underscore the global challenge targeted by Sustainable Development Goal 6.
The recent presidential engagement follows other high-level economic talks between the two nations held earlier this month. On September 4, President Faye welcomed UAE Minister of Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dakar. Their discussions centered on enhancing trade and investment relations and expanding cooperation in key sectors. The meeting, which included a delegation from the UAE, focused on exploring commercial opportunities and areas of mutual economic interest during Faye’s visit.
Senior Officials Maintain Ongoing Diplomatic Engagements
During his trip to the UAE, Faye also held talks with Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi. Sheikh Mansour, serving as UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court, discussed cooperation in strategic areas such as investment and development. Both officials considered ways to deepen the bilateral partnership and shared insights on matters of common concern. This meeting added another high-level discussion component to Faye’s official visit.
In addition to these diplomatic exchanges, the UAE and Senegal are collaborating on preparations for the December water conference. Earlier this year, Senegal hosted a high-level preparatory meeting in Dakar as part of the process. The Abu Dhabi event will feature plenary sessions in conjunction with its six interactive dialogues, with programming aligned to the key elements of Sustainable Development Goal 6. The presidential talks on September 17 linked this international agenda with ongoing UAE-Senegal cooperation in areas such as investment, economic development, and bilateral relations.