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 for a working trip. The two leaders examined bilateral relations and explored avenues for enhanced cooperation between the UAE and Senegal. Their conversations addressed topics such as investment, economic collaboration, and development initiatives. Additionally, they shared perspectives on regional and global issues of mutual concern.
Sheikh Mohamed welcomed Faye and highlighted areas where the two nations already maintain active partnership. Economic ties were a key focus during the meeting. Both presidents analyzed potential opportunities related to investment and development priorities in their respective countries. The discussions occurred amid ongoing official exchanges between Abu Dhabi and Dakar. Throughout 2026, officials from both nations have held multiple meetings centered on trade, investment, government collaboration, and preparations for an upcoming major global water conference.
The leaders also addressed the upcoming 2026 United Nations Water Conference, which will be co-hosted by the UAE and Senegal. Scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi from December 8 to 10, the conference aims to accelerate progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 6. This goal advocates for universal access to water and sanitation and sustainable water resource management. The event will convene governments, international organizations, civil society, private sector representatives, and other stakeholders involved in water policy.
Water summit a focal point in discussions
To prepare for the December conference, the United Nations has organized six interactive dialogues. These sessions will focus on water’s role in supporting people, prosperity, the planet, cooperation, multilateral processes, and investment. Key topics will include financing, technology, innovation, and capacity development. According to UN data, approximately 2.1 billion individuals worldwide still lack access to safely managed drinking water, while around 3.4 billion people do not have access to safely managed sanitation services. These figures underscore the global challenge addressed through Sustainable Development Goal 6.
This recent presidential meeting followed other economic discussions between the two nations earlier this month. On September 4, President Faye hosted UAE Minister of Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dakar. The agenda included strengthening trade and investment links and expanding cooperation in priority sectors. The meeting involved a UAE delegation and centered on exploring commercial opportunities between the two economies. Both sides also reviewed areas of shared economic interest during Faye’s visit to Dakar.
High-level officials maintain ongoing bilateral engagement
During his visit to the UAE, Faye also met Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi. Sheikh Mansour is the UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court. Their discussions focused on cooperation in key sectors, especially investment and development. They also considered ways to deepen the bilateral partnership and exchanged views on matters of mutual interest. This meeting added another senior-level discussion to Faye’s official visit to the country.
In addition to these engagements, the UAE and Senegal are collaborating on preparations for the December water conference. Earlier in 2026, Senegal hosted a high-level preparatory meeting in Dakar as part of this process. The Abu Dhabi event will feature plenary sessions in addition to its six interactive dialogues. The program is designed around the core elements of Sustainable Development Goal 6. The presidential discussions on September 17 linked that international agenda with ongoing UAE-Senegal cooperation in areas like investment, economic development, and bilateral relations.