The UAE is calling for water investment to become a global economic priority ahead of the 2026 UN Water Conference.
The conference will take place at the ADNEC Exhibition Centre in Abu Dhabi from 8–10 December 2026.
Co-hosted by the United Arab Emirates and Senegal, it will bring together governments, finance, business, civil society, academia and the technology community.
Ahead of the event, UAE Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability His Excellency Abdulla Balalaa said reliable access to water underpins economic activity, industry, technology and global supply chains.
Water investment gains dedicated UN dialogue
A defining feature of this year’s conference will be Investments for Water, a sixth Interactive Dialogue dedicated to mobilising finance, technology, innovation and capacity for water projects.
The dialogue was adopted by consensus by UN Member States.
It will sit alongside five existing themes covering Water for People, Water for Prosperity, Water for Planet, Water for Cooperation and Water in Multilateral Processes.
The dedicated investment track reflects growing recognition that governments alone cannot finance the scale of water infrastructure and resilience measures required worldwide.
“You may not always see it listed on a balance sheet, but water underpins every aspect of development and economic activity. It connects industrial production, technology, and global supply chains.”
Balalaa said commercial banks, institutional investors, development finance institutions, multilateral development banks, philanthropies and the private sector will all need to play a greater role.
He added that almost every product and service supporting modern economies depends on reliable access to water.
Connecting finance with practical water solutions
The UAE wants the conference to help connect organisations requiring water solutions with those capable of developing, financing and deploying them.
That focus extends beyond infrastructure finance.
Organisers are also seeking to accelerate technologies, strengthen partnerships and create clearer investment pipelines capable of translating commitments into operational projects.
Balalaa said the UAE’s role as co-host is to bring together different experiences, technologies and approaches from around the world.
“We want to connect the people who need solutions with the people who can develop, finance, deploy, and scale them.”
He said the aim is for conversations and commitments to continue after the conference concludes.
The UAE wants the event to result in stronger partnerships, clearer investment pipelines and technologies moving closer to deployment.
Accelerating progress on SDG 6
The focus on implementation comes as pressure grows to accelerate progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 6.
SDG 6 aims to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
The United Nations says 2.1 billion people still lack access to safely managed drinking water.
A further 3.4 billion people lack safely managed sanitation services.
Population growth, climate change, pollution and increasing demand are also placing greater pressure on water resources and infrastructure.
2026 UN Water Conference expands beyond official negotiations
The conference will operate across two complementary areas.
The UN-accredited Blue Zone will host the official programme, including plenary sessions, the six Interactive Dialogues and accredited side events.
The UAE-hosted Oasis will provide exhibition space, pavilions and additional programming for a wider community of investors, innovators and industry participants.
The Oasis will also host the inaugural Abu Dhabi Water and Power Week, led by the Department of Energy – Abu Dhabi.
H2O Global News previously reported that registration has opened for The Oasis at the 2026 UN Water Conference.
Building a global water investment pipeline
The 2026 gathering will be the third UN Water Conference in almost 50 years.
It will also be the first explicitly focused on accelerating implementation of SDG 6.
Thousands of participants are expected from government, finance, multilateral organisations, civil society, academia, business and the innovation community.
For the UAE, elevating water investment alongside policy and technology will be central to turning conference commitments into practical projects.
The 2026 UN Water Conference will take place from 8–10 December 2026 at the ADNEC Exhibition Centre in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
The conference is co-hosted by the United Arab Emirates and Senegal and is focused on accelerating implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 6.
Investments for Water is a dedicated Interactive Dialogue focused on mobilising the finance, technology, innovation and capacity required to deliver water solutions at scale.
The Oasis is a UAE-hosted space alongside the official UN programme featuring exhibitions, pavilions and programming for businesses, investors, innovators and other water-sector stakeholders.
