The UAE is advancing global cooperation on water and peacebuilding during high-level meetings in Geneva as part of its preparation to co-host the 2026 UN Water Conference.
GENEVA: The UAE has taken a leading role in linking water security to peacebuilding through a series of high-level diplomatic engagements in Geneva this month. As part of its road to co-hosting the 2026 United Nations Water Conference, the UAE’s delegation was led by Abdulla Balalaa, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability.
On 16th October, Balalaa participated in a panel titled “Rebooting the International Peacebuilding System: A Call for Hydro Diplomacy” during the 12th Geneva Peace Week. In his remarks, he highlighted how water diplomacy can serve as a catalyst for stability, cooperation, and multilateral reform. “Discussing water during a Peace Week, rather than a Water Week, sends a powerful message that water lies at the heart of peace and cooperation,” Balalaa said.
The UAE water diplomacy Geneva agenda also included a series of bilateral meetings with global leaders and experts in the water and climate sectors. Among them were Cheikh Tidiane Dieye, Senegal’s Minister of Water and Sanitation; Kamal Kishore, UN Special Representative for Disaster Risk Reduction; and Dr. Musonda Mumba, Secretary-General of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. The meetings focused on institutional partnerships and shaping impactful contributions to the 2026 UN Water Conference.
On 17th October, the UAE hosted a stakeholder roundtable with Geneva-based institutions, aiming to leverage the city’s humanitarian and environmental ecosystem to strengthen global water governance. The discussions will inform a “Geneva Inputs to 2026” summary, providing insights for the upcoming UN conference.
Balalaa stated, “Water diplomacy is peace diplomacy. It links humanitarian, development, and water-sector action to prevent crises and build resilience. Geneva’s unique institutions offer the perfect platform to turn water policy into real-world impact.”
The UAE water diplomacy Geneva initiative reaffirms the nation’s commitment to cross-border water cooperation, climate resilience, and sustainable development — all of which will be central to the 2026 conference agenda.
