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. Faye was visiting the United Arab Emirates on a working trip. During their discussions, the leaders assessed the current state of bilateral ties and explored avenues for enhanced cooperation between the UAE and Senegal. The agenda included topics such as investment, economic collaboration, and development initiatives. They also exchanged perspectives on regional and global issues of shared concern.
Sheikh Mohamed expressed a warm welcome to Faye and highlighted areas where the two nations already maintain active partnerships. A significant portion of the meeting focused on economic relations. The presidents examined potential opportunities related to investment and development priorities in both countries. This dialogue occurred amid ongoing regular official exchanges between Abu Dhabi and Dakar. Officials from both nations have held several meetings in 2026, centered on trade, investment, government collaboration, and preparations for a major international water conference.
The discussion also covered the 2026 United Nations Water Conference, which will be co-hosted by the UAE and Senegal. Scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi from December 8 to 10, the conference aims to accelerate progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 6. This goal advocates for universal access to water and sanitation, along with the sustainable management of water resources. The event will gather governments, international agencies, civil society, businesses, and other stakeholders involved in water policy.
Water summit holds central importance during diplomatic talks
For the December summit, the United Nations has organized six interactive dialogues. These sessions will focus on water for people, prosperity, the planet, cooperation, multilateral processes, and investment. The conference will also delve into financing, technological innovation, and capacity-building efforts. According to UN data, approximately 2.1 billion people still lack safely managed drinking water. Furthermore, about 3.4 billion individuals do not have access to safely managed sanitation services. These statistics underscore the ongoing global challenge addressed by Sustainable Development Goal 6.
The recent presidential discussions follow other economic exchanges held earlier this month. On September 4, President Faye met with UAE Minister of Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dakar. The talks focused on strengthening trade relations, boosting investment, and expanding cooperation in key sectors. The meeting included a UAE delegation and centered on exploring commercial opportunities between the two economies. Both sides also discussed areas of shared economic interests during Faye’s visit to Dakar.
High-level officials continue to deepen bilateral ties
While visiting the UAE, Faye also held discussions with Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi. Sheikh Mansour serves as UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court. Their conversation focused on cooperation in priority sectors, especially investment and development. They reviewed ways to expand the bilateral partnership and exchanged views on topics of mutual interest. This meeting added another senior-level engagement to Faye’s working trip to the country.
Furthermore, the UAE and Senegal are collaborating on preparations 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. Organizers designed the program to align with the core themes of Sustainable Development Goal 6. The presidential meetings on September 17 linked this international agenda with ongoing cooperation in investment, economic development, and bilateral relations between the UAE and Senegal.