Dakar, Senegal – The UAE and the Republic of Senegal held a high-level preparatory meeting in Dakar from January 26 to 27, 2026.
The two countries held this meeting in their capacity as co-hosts of the 2026 United Nations Water Conference.
This meeting marked a pivotal milestone in the preparations for the conference, bringing together, for the first time, co-chairs from 12 countries for interactive dialogues following their recent appointment.
The Dakar High-Level Preparatory Meeting was opened by Passerou Dioumaye Faye, President of the Republic of Senegal.
This was attended by ministers and high-level representatives of governments, the United Nations, and international and regional organizations.
They include the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, international financial institutions, civil society, the private sector, youth, and other key stakeholders.
With the aim of building momentum and driving collective efforts to accelerate water-related commitments and actions.
The meeting included specialized discussion sessions for all interactive dialogues, led by the co-chairs of each dialogue.
The host countries also held, for the first time, a meeting that brought together the 12 co-chairs of the six interactive dialogues.
The meeting was as follows: (Water for Peoples: Switzerland and Ghana, Water for Prosperity: Spain and China, Water for Planet Earth: Japan and Egypt, Water for Cooperation: Finland and Zambia, Water in Multilateral Operations: Germany and Mexico, Investments for Water: France and South Africa).
The two host countries, the UAE and the Republic of Senegal, welcomed the newly appointed ministerial-level co-chairs of the interactive dialogues.
Who will play an important role in promoting the conference’s objectives in accelerating the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 6 and all global water-related goals.
The UAE and the Republic of Senegal stressed the importance of involving all member states and stakeholders in this process.
This plays a pivotal role in ensuring that the conference leads to important outcomes that enhance collective and effective action.
The high-level preparatory meeting will continue to exchange further views and perspectives.
This is in support of the ongoing preparatory process for the 2026 United Nations Water Conference.
