Dubai, UAE – Oct. 2026 – The UAE’s assistant foreign minister for energy and sustainability called for water resilience to be treated as a strategic priority in economic and investment planning, as preparations continue for the 2026 UN Water Conference in Abu Dhabi.
Abdullah Balalaa, speaking at the WETEX exhibition and the Global Green Economy Summit in Dubai, stressed the need to integrate the water, energy, technology and finance sectors to drive sustainable growth and boost economic competitiveness.
He urged expanding proven solutions, mobilizing investment and strengthening cooperation with international partners, while backing investable water projects and a greater role for the private sector in financing them.
Ensuring reliable and sustainable water resources is a cornerstone of economic growth, Balalaa said, citing benefits including higher agricultural productivity, reduced risks for industry, more resilient cities and a more stable environment for long-term investment.
Drawing on the UAE’s experience with water scarcity, he pointed to advanced desalination, improved resource efficiency, water reuse and digitally enabled networks, as well as the traditional “aflaj” systems that sustained life in the region for generations.
Balalaa also noted that artificial intelligence can improve resource efficiency, but that its wider adoption is increasing demand for water and energy, underscoring the need for integrated infrastructure planning.
He said the true measure of the conference’s success would be how far commitments announced in Abu Dhabi translate into tangible, lasting results beyond the December event.
The conference, co-hosted by the UAE and Senegal, runs from Dec. 8 to 10 and will focus on accelerating progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 6, which covers clean water and sanitation. It is the third UN water conference since 1977 and the first dedicated to SDG 6.
Registration is now open for “Al Waha,” the UAE’s green zone at the conference, which will host exhibitions, discussions and partnership opportunities for government, business, innovators and organizations.
