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The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs has detailed the participation of Assistant Minister Abdulla Ahmed Balalaa in the Africa Water and Sanitation Systems Leadership Symposium held in Kigali, Rwanda. Balalaa chaired the UAE delegation at the ministerial roundtable themed around accelerating transformation in water and sanitation sectors for sustainable development. The discussions focused on strategic solutions to strengthen collaboration among African nations while shaping a common position for the upcoming UN Water Conference. Balalaa stressed the strategic importance of water for sustainable development and resilience in Africa.
According to the ministry, the UAE emphasised translating political commitments into concrete investments, partnerships, practical solutions and modern technologies. This participation forms an integral part of preparations for the 2026 UN Water Conference, which the UAE will co-host with Senegal in Abu Dhabi. The symposium, which ran from August 17 to 21, brought together political, fiscal and technical leaders from across the continent. It aimed to build high-performing, accountable and investment-ready water and sanitation services.
Gulf News reported that Balalaa told the gathering, “The challenge before us is no longer one of ambition. The challenge is implementation.” He announced that the Abu Dhabi conference would connect African countries’ identified priorities with development finance institutions, philanthropies, investors, businesses and innovators. Previous preparatory meetings in Addis Ababa, Cape Town and Dakar have helped develop a roadmap centred on infrastructure investment, financing, capacity building and innovation.
Balalaa highlighted several UAE initiatives during his address, the report added. These include the Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative, which features a $119 million prize purse to spur innovation in desalination and water efficiency worldwide. The Abu Dhabi Global Water Platform represents a $2 billion commitment to accelerate water projects and reach 10 million people with clean water access by 2030. A 2024 financing agreement between the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development and Rwanda targets enhanced water transmission and distribution infrastructure in that country.
The 2026 UN Water Conference is scheduled for December 8 to 10 in Abu Dhabi, according to the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It will focus on accelerating progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 6, which seeks to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. The programme includes an accredited Blue Zone and a UAE-hosted Oasis zone dedicated to innovation, exhibitions and pavilions. Registration for The Oasis is now open, the organisers said.
Outcomes from the Kigali symposium are expected to inform four interactive dialogues at the UN conference on water for humanity, the planet, cooperation and investment, a statement from the ministry indicated. African nations including Ghana, Egypt, Zambia and South Africa are co-leading these dialogues. The event builds on the African Union declaration of 2026 as the Year of Water and its endorsement of a new continental water vision earlier this year.
The African Union has committed to funding the top five young innovators from across its regions to attend the UN Water Conference in the UAE, complete with round-trip tickets and allowances. This initiative was announced during the symposium by a senior AU official. Such measures aim to incorporate youth perspectives and innovative solutions into the global discussions on water security.
