ABU DHABI / RankWire.AI / – UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan received Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye during a working visit to the United Arab Emirates. The leaders reviewed relations between the UAE and Senegal and discussed ways to expand bilateral cooperation. Their talks focused on investment, economic activity and development. They also exchanged views on regional and international issues of shared interest. The meeting took place in Abu Dhabi on September 17.
Sheikh Mohamed and President Faye also discussed preparations for the 2026 United Nations Water Conference. The UAE and Senegal will co-host the conference in Abu Dhabi from December 8 to 10. The event will focus on accelerating progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 6. That goal calls for clean water and sanitation for all. The leaders discussed water-related priorities and their importance for economic and social development in both countries and internationally.
The conference forms a central part of current cooperation between the UAE and Senegal. The United Nations General Assembly approved revised conference dates in May, moving the event to December 8 through 10. The gathering will include plenary sessions and six interactive dialogues covering major water and sanitation issues. Organizers have also included governments, international institutions and other accredited stakeholders in the preparatory process. Abu Dhabi will host the main conference sessions.
Water conference anchors bilateral agenda
The September meeting followed earlier UAE-Senegal engagement on trade, investment and development. President Faye received UAE Minister of Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dakar on September 4. They discussed trade and investment relations and opportunities in priority sectors. The meeting also addressed ways to expand economic cooperation between the two countries. Those discussions added to a series of official contacts focused on commercial ties and development partnerships during 2026.
President Faye also met Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi during his latest UAE visit. Sheikh Mansour serves as UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court. Their talks covered cooperation in investment and development and opportunities to broaden the bilateral partnership. They also exchanged views on issues of mutual interest. The meeting reinforced the wider agenda discussed during President Faye’s talks with Sheikh Mohamed.
Economic cooperation remains a key focus
UAE-Senegal relations have increasingly featured investment, trade and development in senior-level talks this year. Officials from both countries have held meetings in Abu Dhabi and Dakar. The two governments have also worked together on preparations for the United Nations Water Conference. Senegal hosted a high-level preparatory meeting in Dakar earlier in 2026. That process brought together governments and stakeholders to discuss priorities ahead of the December conference in the UAE.
The December event will seek to accelerate implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 6 on water and sanitation. Current United Nations data show that billions of people still lack safely managed drinking water or sanitation services. The conference will address financing, cooperation, environmental pressures and access to water among its core themes. For the UAE and Senegal, the meeting also represents a major joint international undertaking within a broader relationship that includes economic, investment and development cooperation.