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’s visit to the United Arab Emirates was officially for diplomatic and working purposes. The two leaders assessed their nations’ bilateral connections and explored avenues for enhanced cooperation between the UAE and Senegal. Their dialogue emphasized investment, economic partnerships, and developmental initiatives, along with sharing perspectives on regional and global issues of mutual concern.
Sheikh Mohamed expressed his hospitality towards Faye and highlighted existing areas of active collaboration. The focus on economic relations dominated their conversations, with both presidents examining prospects related to investment and development priorities in their respective countries. These discussions took place amid a series of ongoing official exchanges between Abu Dhabi and Dakar in 2026. Officials from the UAE and Senegal convened multiple times this year, addressing topics such as trade, investment, government collaboration, and preparations for an upcoming international water conference.
A significant part of their talks was dedicated to the 2026 United Nations Water Conference, which both nations will 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, which advocates for universal access to water and sanitation and sustainable water resource management. It is expected to gather representatives from governments, international bodies, civil society, the business sector, and other stakeholders involved in water governance.
Water summit plays a key role in bilateral discussions
The United Nations has organized six interactive sessions for the conference in December. These sessions will explore topics such as water for people, prosperity, the planet, cooperation, multilateral processes, and investment. The agenda also emphasizes financing, technological innovation, and capacity development. UN data indicate that approximately 2.1 billion individuals still lack access to safely managed drinking water, while around 3.4 billion people are without safely managed sanitation services. These figures reflect the ongoing global challenge addressed by Sustainable Development Goal 6.
Earlier this month, President Faye’s visit followed other economic engagements with the UAE. On September 4, he received UAE Minister of Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dakar. Their discussions focused on enhancing trade and investment links and broadening cooperation in key sectors. The meeting, which involved a UAE delegation, aimed to identify commercial opportunities and areas of shared economic interest during the visit to Dakar.
High-level officials maintain ongoing bilateral dialogue
In addition to his meetings in Abu Dhabi, Faye also conferred with Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Sheikh Mansour is the UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court. Their discussion centered on cooperation in priority sectors such as investment and development, as well as strategies to deepen bilateral ties. They exchanged views on matters of mutual concern, adding another layer of senior-level engagement during Faye’s official visit.
Both countries are collaborating in the lead-up to the December water conference, with Senegal hosting a preparatory high-level meeting in Dakar earlier this year. The upcoming Abu Dhabi event will feature plenary sessions alongside the six interactive dialogues, structured around the core themes of Sustainable Development Goal 6. The presidential meeting on September 17 linked this international agenda with ongoing UAE-Senegal cooperation in areas like investment, economic development, and bilateral relations.