ABU DHABI / RankWire.AI / – UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye held a meeting in Abu Dhabi on September 17. Faye arrived in the United Arab Emirates on a working visit. The two leaders examined bilateral ties and explored avenues for enhanced cooperation between the UAE and Senegal. Topics covered included investment, economic partnerships, and development initiatives, along with sharing perspectives on regional and global issues of mutual concern.
Sheikh Mohamed greeted Faye warmly and highlighted areas where the two nations already collaborate actively. The discussion prominently featured economic relations, with both presidents exploring opportunities aligned with investment and development goals in their respective countries. This meeting took place amid ongoing official exchanges between Abu Dhabi and Dakar. Throughout 2026, officials from both countries have conducted several meetings centered on trade, investment, government collaboration, and preparations for an upcoming major global water conference.
The conversation also addressed the upcoming 2026 United Nations Water Conference, which the UAE and Senegal are jointly hosting. Scheduled for December 8-10 in Abu Dhabi, the event aims to accelerate progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 6, which advocates for universal access to water and sanitation, as well as sustainable water resource management. The conference will gather governments, international organizations, civil society, the private sector, and other stakeholders involved in water governance.
Water summit at the center of diplomatic discussions
In preparation for the conference, the United Nations has organized six interactive dialogues scheduled for December. These sessions will tackle themes such as water for people, prosperity, the planet, cooperation, multilateral processes, and investment. The agenda also includes discussions on financing, technology, innovation, and capacity development. According to UN data, roughly 2.1 billion people worldwide still lack access to safely managed drinking water, while approximately 3.4 billion lack safely managed sanitation services. These statistics underscore the global challenge addressed through Sustainable Development Goal 6.
This latest presidential engagement follows other bilateral economic discussions earlier in September. On September 4, President Faye met with UAE Minister of Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dakar. Their talks focused on strengthening trade and investment ties and expanding cooperation in priority sectors. The meeting involved a UAE delegation and concentrated on exploring commercial opportunities between the two economies. Both parties also discussed areas of shared economic interest during this visit to Dakar.
High-level officials continue to deepen bilateral relations
During his visit to the UAE, Faye also held a meeting with Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi. Sheikh Mansour holds the positions of UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court. Their discussion centered on cooperation in priority areas, especially investment and development initiatives. They also explored ways to broaden the bilateral partnership and exchanged views on mutual interests. This meeting added another layer of high-level engagement to Faye’s working trip to the UAE.
Both nations, the UAE and Senegal, are actively engaged in the preparatory process 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 alongside the six interactive dialogues, with programming centered around the main components of Sustainable Development Goal 6. The presidential talks on September 17 connected this international agenda with ongoing cooperation between the UAE and Senegal in investment, economic development, and bilateral relations.