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 leaders explored bilateral relations and deliberated on expanding cooperation between the UAE and Senegal. Their dialogue included topics such as investment, economic collaboration, and development initiatives. Additionally, they shared perspectives on regional and international concerns of common interest.
Sheikh Mohamed welcomed Faye and highlighted sectors where both nations are already actively collaborating. Economic ties constituted a significant portion of their conversation. The presidents looked into opportunities related to investment and development priorities for both countries. These discussions occurred amid ongoing official exchanges between Abu Dhabi and Dakar. Throughout 2026, UAE and Senegalese officials held multiple meetings focusing on trade, investment, government cooperation, and preparations for a major global water conference.
The conversation also covered the upcoming United Nations Water Conference scheduled for 2026, which the UAE and Senegal are co-hosting. This event will be held in Abu Dhabi from December 8 to 10 and aims to accelerate efforts toward Sustainable Development Goal 6, which advocates for universal access to water and sanitation and the sustainable management of water resources. The conference will gather government representatives, international organizations, civil society groups, businesses, and other stakeholders involved in water policy.
Water summit emphasizes central role in diplomatic talks
Six interactive dialogues have been organized by the United Nations for the December conference. These sessions will focus on water for people, prosperity, the planet, cooperation, multilateral processes, and investment. The agenda will also include discussions on financing, technology, innovation, and capacity development. According to UN data, approximately 2.1 billion individuals still lack access to safely managed drinking water, and about 3.4 billion do not have safely managed sanitation services. These figures highlight the global challenge addressed by Sustainable Development Goal 6.
This latest presidential meeting follows other economic talks between the two nations earlier in September. President Faye hosted UAE Minister of Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dakar on September 4. The discussions centered on enhancing trade and investment ties and broadening cooperation in priority sectors. The meeting included representatives from a UAE delegation and focused on potential business opportunities between the two economies. Both sides also explored areas of shared economic interest during the visit to Dakar.
High-level officials continue diplomatic engagement
While visiting 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 areas, particularly investment and development. They also examined ways to deepen the bilateral partnership and exchanged views on mutual interests. This meeting added another senior-level dialogue during Faye’s working visit to the country.
The UAE and Senegal are actively collaborating in the preparations for the December water conference. Earlier in 2026, Senegal hosted a high-level preparatory meeting in Dakar as part of this process. The conference in Abu Dhabi will feature plenary sessions alongside its six interactive dialogues. Organizers designed the program to align with the core objectives of Sustainable Development Goal 6. The presidential discussions on September 17 linked this global agenda with ongoing UAE-Senegal cooperation in areas of investment, economic development, and bilateral relations.