ABU DHABI / RankWire.AI / – UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye convened in Abu Dhabi on September 17 for discussions. Faye was visiting the United Arab Emirates on a working trip, during which the leaders assessed their bilateral relationship and explored avenues for enhanced collaboration between the UAE and Senegal. Their dialogue encompassed topics such as investment, economic relations, and development efforts, as well as regional and international issues of common concern.
Sheikh Mohamed welcomed Faye and highlighted existing areas of active cooperation, with economic ties playing a central role in their conversation. The presidents evaluated prospects related to investment and development priorities in both nations. This meeting occurred amid ongoing official engagements between Abu Dhabi and Dakar, with several 2026 meetings focused on trade, investment, government collaboration, and preparations for a significant global water conference.
A key topic was the upcoming 2026 United Nations Water Conference, which both the UAE and Senegal will co-host. Scheduled from December 8 to 10 in Abu Dhabi, the conference aims to accelerate progress on Sustainable Development Goal 6, which strives for universal water and sanitation access and sustainable water resource management. It will gather governments, international organizations, civil society, businesses, and other stakeholders involved in water policy.
Water summit’s role in discussions emphasized
The United Nations has organized six interactive dialogues for the December event, addressing water for people, prosperity, the planet, cooperation, multilateral processes, and investment. Topics such as financing, technology, innovation, and capacity development will also be discussed. UN data indicate that approximately 2.1 billion people still lack safely managed drinking water, while around 3.4 billion lack access to safely managed sanitation services, highlighting the global challenge addressed under Sustainable Development Goal 6.
This latest presidential encounter followed other economic exchanges between the two countries this month. On September 4, President Faye met with UAE Minister of Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dakar, focusing on strengthening trade and investment ties and broadening cooperation in key sectors. Their discussion involved a UAE delegation and aimed at identifying commercial opportunities, along with exploring shared economic interests during the Dakar visit.
High-level officials continue bilateral cooperation
During his stay in the UAE, Faye also held talks with Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi. As UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court, Sheikh Mansour and Faye discussed collaboration in priority areas like investment and development, along with ways to deepen their bilateral partnership and mutual interests. This meeting added another senior-level discussion to Faye’s working visit.
Additionally, the UAE and Senegal are collaborating in the lead-up to the December water conference, with Senegal hosting a high-level preparatory meeting in Dakar earlier in 2026 as part of that process. The Abu Dhabi event will feature plenary sessions alongside its six interactive dialogues, with the program designed around the core elements of Sustainable Development Goal 6. The presidential talks on September 17 linked that international agenda with ongoing UAE-Senegal cooperation in investment, economic development, and bilateral relations.