ABU DHABI / RankWire.AI / – UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye convened in Abu Dhabi on September 17 for discussions. Faye’s visit to the United Arab Emirates was official, and during their meeting, the leaders explored ways to strengthen bilateral ties and enhance cooperation between the two nations. Their conversations focused on investment, economic collaboration, and development initiatives, along with exchanging perspectives on regional and international concerns of mutual interest.
Sheikh Mohamed welcomed Faye and highlighted areas where the two countries already collaborate actively. Economic relations played a central role in the dialogue, with both presidents exploring potential opportunities related to investment and developmental priorities. This meeting occurred amidst ongoing official engagements between Abu Dhabi and Dakar, including several meetings in 2026 centered on trade, investment, government collaboration, and preparations for a significant global water conference.
The leaders also addressed the upcoming 2026 United Nations Water Conference, which the UAE and Senegal are co-hosting. Scheduled to be held in Abu Dhabi from December 8 to 10, the event aims to advance progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 6, which calls for universal access to water and sanitation, as well as sustainable water resource management. The conference will gather governments, international organizations, civil society, businesses, and other stakeholders involved in water policy and management.
Water summit plays a key role in diplomatic discussions
To prepare for the December gathering, the United Nations has organized six interactive dialogues covering water for people, prosperity, the planet, cooperation, multilateral processes, and investment. These sessions will also discuss financing, technological advancements, innovation, and capacity building. According to UN data, roughly 2.1 billion people still lack access to safely managed drinking water, while around 3.4 billion lack safely managed sanitation services. These figures underscore the global challenge that Sustainable Development Goal 6 seeks to address.
This recent presidential engagement follows other economic discussions held earlier this month. On September 4, President Faye met with UAE Minister of Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dakar. Their dialogue focused on enhancing trade, boosting investment, and expanding cooperation in strategic sectors. The meeting included a UAE delegation and emphasized exploring commercial opportunities between the two economies, along with identifying common economic interests during the visit.
Officials from both nations continue to deepen bilateral relations
In Abu Dhabi, Faye also held talks with Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court. Their discussions centered on cooperation in key sectors, especially investment and development, with an emphasis on broadening the bilateral partnership and exchanging views on mutual interests. This meeting added another high-level discussion to Faye’s working visit to the UAE.
Both countries are actively involved in the preparations for the upcoming water conference. Earlier in 2026, Senegal hosted a high-level preparatory meeting in Dakar as part of this process. The Abu Dhabi conference will feature plenary sessions alongside six interactive dialogues, with the program designed around the core elements of Sustainable Development Goal 6. The presidential talks on September 17 linked this global agenda with ongoing cooperation between the UAE and Senegal in investment, economic development, and bilateral relations.