ABU DHABI / RankWire.AI / – UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye held discussions in Abu Dhabi on September 17. Faye was visiting the United Arab Emirates on official business. They reviewed the relationship between their countries and explored ways to enhance cooperation. Topics included investment, economic partnerships, and development. They also shared perspectives on regional and international issues of mutual concern.
Sheikh Mohamed welcomed Faye and highlighted areas of active collaboration. The discussion mainly centered on economic relations. The leaders looked at investment opportunities and development priorities in both nations. These talks followed consistent official contacts between Abu Dhabi and Dakar. Throughout 2026, UAE and Senegalese officials have met several times to discuss trade, investment, government collaboration, and preparations for a major global water event.
The officials also talked about the 2026 United Nations Water Conference. The UAE and Senegal are co-hosting this event, scheduled from December 8 to 10 in Abu Dhabi. The conference aims to speed up progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 6. This goal seeks universal access to water and sanitation, along with sustainable water management. Participants will include governments, international bodies, civil society, businesses, and other water stakeholders.
Water Summit Central in Discussions
The United Nations has arranged six interactive dialogues for the December event. Topics include water for people, prosperity, the planet, cooperation, multilateral efforts, and investment. Discussions will also focus on financing, technology, innovation, and capacity development. According to UN data, about 2.1 billion people still lack safely managed drinking water. Additionally, 3.4 billion people do not have safely managed sanitation services. These figures highlight the ongoing global challenge addressed by Sustainable Development Goal 6.
This latest presidential meeting follows other economic talks held earlier this month. President Faye met UAE Minister of Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dakar on September 4. They discussed ways to boost trade, investment, and cooperation in key sectors. The meeting included a UAE delegation. Both sides focused on commercial opportunities and shared economic interests during the visit.
Bilateral Engagement Continues at Senior Levels
While in the UAE, Faye also met Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi. Sheikh Mansour is UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court. Their discussion centered on investment and development cooperation. They reviewed methods to expand the bilateral relationship and exchanged views on mutual interests. This added a high-level conversation to Faye’s visit.
Both countries are also collaborating on preparations for the December water conference. Senegal hosted a senior-level preparatory meeting in Dakar earlier in 2026 as part of this process. The Abu Dhabi conference will feature plenary sessions and six interactive dialogues. The program aligns with the main themes of Sustainable Development Goal 6. The presidential discussions on September 17 linked that global agenda with ongoing UAE-Senegal cooperation in investment, economics, and bilateral relations.