Abdullah Balalaa, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy Affairs 

Abdullah Al-Balaa.. UN Water Conference 2026 to Enhance Water Resources Management

His Excellency Abdullah Al-Balaa, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability, affirmed that the UN Water Conference 2026, hosted by the UAE in partnership with the Republic of Senegal, and to be held at the Abu Dhabi National Energy Center (ADNEC) from December 8 to 10, represents a call for ambition, multilateral action, and the use of innovation and advanced technologies to enhance the efficiency of water resources management. 

He stated that the event will be the first UN conference to focus directly on accelerating the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 6, which pertains to ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation services for all.

In his opening remarks during the media briefing held today at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for heads and representatives of diplomatic missions accredited to the UAE, he said: “Preparations for the conference.

 over the past period, have been carried out in coordination with various member states, partners, and stakeholders to ensure a conference based on inclusivity, ambition, and international consensus.” He noted that member states adopted the themes for the conference’s interactive dialogues by consensus in July 2025.

He stated that the 2026 UN Water Conference will significantly contribute to supporting water sustainability, thanks to its thorough preparation and rich agenda, which covers its six officially adopted themes for interactive dialogue: “Water for People,” “Water for Prosperity,” “Water for the Planet,” “Water for Cooperation,” “Water in Multilateral Processes,” and “Investments for Water.”

He emphasized that water is not a secondary issue, but rather an economic, climatic, and health issue, and at its core, a security issue. Without water, sustainable development cannot continue. His Excellency emphasized that water is a strategic national priority for the UAE. In 2023, during its hosting of COP28, the UAE dedicated an entire day to water within its conference agenda. 

In 2024, it launched the Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative to address this global challenge. This initiative contributes to raising awareness of the water scarcity crisis and its severity internationally, as well as accelerating the development of innovative technological solutions to address it.

He added, "Earlier this year, we launched the Abu Dhabi Global Water Platform, aiming to attract $2 billion in funding between 2026 and 2030, including a $1 billion commitment from the UAE, with the goal of reaching approximately 10 million people worldwide."

His Excellency stated that these are not isolated initiatives, but rather reflect a broader conviction that action in the water sector must move from discussion to implementation. This is precisely the focus of the conference at the end of this year.

He emphasized that the UAE, despite being among the most water-scarce regions, has succeeded in achieving universal access to clean water and sanitation services, thanks to the vision of its wise leadership and its investment in innovation and sustainable solutions.

He pointed out that water-related challenges are not limited to Sustainable Development Goal 6, but extend to food security, energy, health, the economy, stability, and peace, making water a pivotal, cross-sectoral issue.

He called upon countries, organizations, and institutions to actively participate by proposing initiatives, projects, and partnerships that will contribute to transforming the conference into a global platform for launching practical and impactful commitments in the water sector.

He also urged broad participation from governments, institutions, experts, youth, and innovators, as well as participation in the accompanying exhibition, to showcase innovative solutions, technologies, and partnerships.

In closing, he stressed that the international momentum on water issues needs to be sustained and strengthened in the coming period, noting that the international community has an opportunity to achieve practical results that will elevate water to the forefront of global priorities.

The media briefing included a presentation on preparations for hosting the 2026 UN Water Conference and the UAE's efforts in this regard, reflecting its firm commitment to enhancing the resilience of the water sector and establishing it as a strategic priority globally.