ABU DHABI / RankWire.AI / – UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye met in Abu Dhabi on September 17 for talks. Faye was visiting the United Arab Emirates on a working trip. The two leaders reviewed their bilateral relationship and explored avenues for enhanced cooperation between the UAE and Senegal. Topics of discussion included investment, economic collaboration, and development efforts. Additionally, they exchanged perspectives on regional and global issues of shared interest.
Sheikh Mohamed expressed his welcome to Faye and highlighted areas where the two nations already maintain active engagement. The discussion placed significant emphasis on economic relations. The presidents looked into prospects related to investment opportunities and development priorities in both countries. These discussions occurred amid ongoing official exchanges between Abu Dhabi and Dakar. In 2026, UAE and Senegalese officials have convened multiple meetings focused on trade, investment, government cooperation, and preparations for a major international water conference.
The officials also addressed the upcoming 2026 United Nations Water Conference, which both the UAE and Senegal are co-hosting. Scheduled to be held in Abu Dhabi from December 8 to 10, the event aims to accelerate progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 6. This goal emphasizes universal access to water and sanitation as well as the sustainable management of water resources. The conference will gather representatives from governments, international bodies, civil society, industry, and other stakeholders involved in water policy.
Water summit takes center stage in discussions
For the December event, the United Nations has organized six interactive dialogues. These sessions will focus on water for people, prosperity, the planet, cooperation, multilateral processes, and investment. Topics such as financing, technology, innovation, and capacity-building will also be addressed during the conference. According to UN data, roughly 2.1 billion individuals still lack access to safely managed drinking water, while approximately 3.4 billion lack access to safely managed sanitation services. These figures highlight the global challenge addressed by Sustainable Development Goal 6.
The recent presidential meeting followed earlier discussions on economic cooperation this month. On September 4, President Faye hosted UAE Minister of Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dakar. Their talks centered on strengthening trade and investment ties and expanding collaboration in priority sectors. The meeting involved a UAE delegation and emphasized commercial opportunities between the two nations. Both parties also discussed areas of mutual economic interest during the visit to Dakar.
High-level officials continue to deepen bilateral engagement
During his stay in the UAE, Faye also held a meeting with Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi. Sheikh Mansour, serving as UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court, discussed cooperation in key sectors, notably investment and development. The two leaders explored ways to expand their bilateral partnership and exchanged views on shared interests. This meeting added another layer of senior-level discussions to Faye’s official visit to the UAE.
Moreover, both countries are actively collaborating in the preparatory stages for the December water conference. Earlier in 2026, Senegal hosted a high-level preparatory session in Dakar as part of this process. The Abu Dhabi conference will feature plenary sessions along with its six interactive dialogues. Its programming reflects the core elements of Sustainable Development Goal 6. The presidential talks on September 17 linked that global agenda with ongoing UAE-Senegal cooperation in areas such as investment, economic growth, and bilateral relations.