UAE and Senegal Lead Regional Engagements at Cairo Water Week for UN 2026 Water Conference

CAIRO: The 7th Cairo Water Week, held alongside the 9th Africa Water Week, served as a pivotal platform for the United Arab Emirates and Senegal to engage with regional stakeholders in preparation for the UN 2026 Water Conference. The event emphasized the importance of inclusivity and implementation in advancing global water and sanitation goals. According to Emirates News Agency, the UAE participated in key discussions with African and international actors on inclusive processes leading up to the UN 2026 Water Conference. The focus included ensuring stakeholder involvement across sectors and transitioning from commitments to tangible actions to expedite progress on Sustainable Development Goal 6, concerning clean water and sanitation, as well as the broader 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. A high-level session titled 'Aspirations for the UN 2026 Water Conference' was co-organized by Egypt, Senegal, and the UAE. The session saw participation from ministers of Iraq, Nigeria, Senegal, and South Africa, al ong with senior representatives from Japan, the Netherlands, and the European Union, and various non-state actors, including UN entities, NGOs, the private sector, and civil society. Participants highlighted water as a critical factor in sustainable development. Shaima Gargash, UAE Director of Energy and Sustainability Affairs, underscored the UN 2026 Water Conference as a chance to innovate and position water as a key driver for sustainable development. This sentiment was echoed by Cheikh Tidiane Dièye, Senegal's Minister of Hydraulics and Sanitation, who stressed the necessity of collective engagement and cooperation for achieving global water ambitions. South Africa's Minister of Water and Sanitation, Pemmy Majodina, announced plans for the AU-Africa Water Investment Summit in 2025, aligning with the G20 Presidency, and urged all stakeholders to view it as a significant step towards the UN 2026 Water Conference. The UAE also engaged in sessions on the interconnections between water and climate, highligh ting COP28's efforts to elevate water within the climate agenda. Additionally, discussions on desalination featured the UAE's initiatives, including the Mohamed Bin Zayed Water Initiative and its collaboration with XPRIZE, investing $150 million in a competition to address water scarcity. The Cairo Water Week was organized by the Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation under the theme 'Water and Climate: Building Resilient Communities,' jointly with the 9th Africa Water Week and the upcoming 2024 Cairo Water Week.