ABU DHABI / RankWire.AI / – UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye participated in discussions in Abu Dhabi on September 17. Faye was visiting the United Arab Emirates on a working trip. The two leaders examined their bilateral relationship and explored avenues for enhanced cooperation between the UAE and Senegal. Their dialogue addressed investment opportunities, economic connections, and developmental initiatives, along with exchanging perspectives on regional and global issues of mutual concern.
Sheikh Mohamed expressed his hospitality to Faye and highlighted sectors where both nations are already engaged in active collaboration. Economic ties were a central focus of the conversation, with the presidents considering prospects linked to investment and development priorities in their respective countries. These discussions occurred amid a series of regular official exchanges between Abu Dhabi and Dakar, with UAE and Senegalese officials having held multiple meetings in 2026 centered on trade, investment, government cooperation, and preparations for an upcoming major global water conference.
The heads of state also deliberated on the upcoming 2026 United Nations Water Conference, which both the UAE and Senegal are set to co-host. Scheduled to be held in Abu Dhabi from December 8 to 10, the conference aims to accelerate progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 6, which emphasizes universal access to water and sanitation, as well as sustainable water resource management. The event is expected to gather governments, international agencies, civil society, businesses, and other stakeholders involved in water policy.
Water summit emphasizes importance in discussions
Six interactive dialogues have been organized by the United Nations for the December gathering. These sessions will focus on water for people, prosperity, the planet, cooperation, multilateral processes, and investment. Topics such as financing, technological innovation, capacity development, and advancements in water management will also be addressed. According to United Nations data, approximately 2.1 billion people still lack access to safely managed drinking water, while around 3.4 billion lack access to safely managed sanitation services. These figures underscore the ongoing global challenge addressed through Sustainable Development Goal 6.
The recent presidential engagement follows other economic discussions between the two nations earlier this month. On September 4, President Faye met with UAE Minister of Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dakar. Their talks focused on ways to strengthen trade and investment ties and expand cooperation in key sectors. The meeting included a UAE delegation and emphasized commercial opportunities between the two economies, with both sides also exploring areas of shared economic interest during the visit.
High-level officials maintain ongoing bilateral dialogue
During his stay in the UAE, Faye also met Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi. Sheikh Mansour holds positions as UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court. The two discussed cooperation in priority areas such as investment and development, and explored ways to deepen the bilateral partnership while exchanging views on mutual interests. This meeting added another senior-level discussion to Faye’s working visit to the country.
In addition to these interactions, the UAE and Senegal are collaborating in the preparatory stages of 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 six interactive dialogues, with the program structured around the core components of Sustainable Development Goal 6. The presidential talks on September 17 linked this global agenda with ongoing cooperation between the UAE and Senegal in areas like investment, economic development, and bilateral relations.