The Emirates News Agency reported that His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, dispatched the written invitation to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who also serves as Saudi Arabia’s Prime Minister. UAE Ambassador to the Kingdom Matar Salem Al-Dhaheri delivered the message to Saudi Vice Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji in Riyadh, where the Saudi Press Agency said it was received on the Crown Prince’s behalf. The two officials reviewed bilateral relations between the UAE and Saudi Arabia while discussing topics of mutual interest during their meeting.
The 2026 UN Water Conference will take place from December 8 to 10 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, according to the official conference website. Co-hosted by the UAE and Senegal, the event aims to accelerate implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 6 on clean water and sanitation while strengthening global water governance, a UN-Water assessment found. Six interactive dialogues will address themes ranging from water for shared prosperity and investments for lives and livelihoods to building a resilient future together.
An overview prepared for the conference states that 2.1 billion people lack access to safely managed drinking water and 3.4 billion lack safely managed sanitation services. The gathering builds on the 2023 UN Water Conference in New York, which generated the Water Action Agenda with more than 700 voluntary commitments, UN-Water data shows. Organizers expect participation from governments, UN agencies, private sector representatives and civil society groups to translate those pledges into concrete outcomes.
Gulf News reported that Dr Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to the UAE President, called for enhanced international cooperation on water security in the lead-up to the conference. He described water security as a shared responsibility that forms a fundamental pillar for global stability and development. The UAE’s position as co-host reflects its commitment to mobilizing partnerships and innovative solutions for water-related challenges across regions.
The Emirates News Agency has documented similar written invitations sent by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid to other world leaders in recent weeks, including one to Georgia’s Prime Minister on October 23 for the same event. Such diplomatic outreach highlights the UAE’s role in convening high-level participation for international forums focused on sustainability. Saudi Arabia features among the countries already listed as engaged in the conference preparatory process, according to UN documentation.
The Saudi Press Agency confirmed that the invitation delivery formed part of broader discussions on cooperation between the two neighboring states. Both nations face comparable water scarcity pressures in the arid Gulf environment, where sustainable management has risen as a policy priority. The conference will also incorporate a high-level international meeting previously held in Dakar to assess SDG 6 progress and identify implementation gaps.
