UAE hosts briefing ahead of UN Water Conference 2026

May 15, 2026 / 2:01 PM

Sharjah24 - WAM: The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs organised an official briefing attended by more than 150 members of foreign missions in the country, including over 76 accredited ambassadors and eight representatives of international organisations, as part of preparations for hosting the 2026 United Nations Water Conference in Abu Dhabi later this year.

Conference progress and global significance

The briefing was delivered by Abdulla Balalaa, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability Affairs, who highlighted the importance of the conference at the global level and reviewed key progress achieved so far.

This included the unanimous adoption of the themes for the interactive dialogues with UN member states during the United Nations General Assembly meetings in July 2025, as well as the earlier selection of co-chairs for these discussions.

Call for international cooperation

During his remarks, Abdulla Balalaa stressed that every member state and stakeholder has a vital role to play in contributing to the success of the international event.

He noted that the participation of ambassadors and representatives of international organisations is essential in strengthening the conference’s messages, ensuring high-level representation, broadening stakeholder engagement, and creating opportunities for partnerships and enhanced cooperation.

He added that these efforts would help deliver a landmark conference in Abu Dhabi capable of making a tangible impact on the global water agenda and accelerating progress towards shared priorities.