The UAE and Senegal are set to co-host the 2026 UN Water Conference in Abu Dhabi from December 8 to 10, focusing on the urgent need for investment to address a staggering $6.7 trillion financing gap in global water infrastructure. This conference aims to achieve universal access to safe water and sanitation, a critical goal as outlined in Sustainable Development Goal 6.
Abdulla Balalaa, UAE Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability, emphasized the importance of water in development during a media briefing. He stated, “Water issues may not always appear as a standalone line item in budgets, but they underpin every aspect of development and economic activity. If we are serious about implementation, we must be equally serious about financing. Investing in water is investing in people.”
A Dedicated Investment Dialogue at the UN Water Conference
This conference will mark a significant milestone as it will be only the third UN Water Conference since 1977 and the first led by two countries from the Global South. For the first time, the agenda will include a sixth Interactive Dialogue specifically focused on mobilizing finance, technology, and innovation, titled ‘Investments for Water.’ This dialogue will run alongside five existing tracks: Water for People, Water for Prosperity, Water for Planet, Water for Cooperation, and Water in Multilateral Processes.
Balalaa noted that the scale of investment required cannot be met by governments alone. He called on commercial banks, institutional investors, multilateral development banks, development finance institutions, and the private sector to recognize water as both an economic priority and an investment opportunity.
Finance Commitments and the Scale of the Challenge
The statistics surrounding the global water crisis are alarming. Approximately 2.1 billion people lack safely managed drinking water, while 3.4 billion lack safely managed sanitation. Furthermore, 1.7 billion people do not have basic hygiene services at home. Women and girls collectively spend nearly 250 million hours each day collecting water.
Agriculture accounts for 72% of global freshwater withdrawals, and Balalaa highlighted that the rapid growth of artificial intelligence is intensifying water demand, as data centers and energy systems supporting AI require reliable water supplies.
To illustrate the UAE’s commitment to addressing these challenges, First Abu Dhabi Bank has pledged to mobilize Dh100 billion in blue finance. Additionally, the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development launched its Global Water Platform on January 8, 2026, aimed at transforming water needs into investable projects by aggregating various sources of capital.
The Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative is also supporting the XPRIZE Water Scarcity competition, a five-year, $119 million initiative focused on affordable seawater desalination, which has already awarded 143 qualified teams as of September 22, 2025.
The conference will take place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), featuring two main areas: the UN-accredited Blue Zone for official sessions and the Oasis, which will host exhibitions and partner activities, including the inaugural Abu Dhabi Water and Power Week.
As the conference approaches, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also strengthening institutional ties, having signed a memorandum of understanding with the IHE Delft Institute for Water Education to enhance research, training, and knowledge exchange.
For more details on the upcoming conference, visit Dubai Week.
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