Geneva: Abdulla Balalaa, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability, led the UAE’s participation in a series of high-level engagements in Geneva aimed at advancing global cooperation on water, climate resilience, and peacebuilding, as part of the UAE’s preparations to co-host the 2026 United Nations Water Conference.
According to Emirates News Agency, on 16th October, Balalaa participated in a high-level panel titled ‘Rebooting the International Peacebuilding System: A Call for Hydro Diplomacy’, during the 12th Geneva Peace Week. The session brought together senior international stakeholders to explore the role of water cooperation in driving peace, stability, and multilateral reform. Balalaa emphasized the importance of water diplomacy as a catalyst for regional and international collaboration, highlighting the UAE’s commitment to multilateralism and the shared responsibility of addressing global water challenges.
Balalaa remarked on the significance of discussing water in the context of Peace Week, noting that it underscores water’s central role in peace and cooperation. As part of his official visit, he also held bilateral meetings with key international leaders and partners in the water and climate sectors. These discussions included meetings with Cheikh Tidiane Dieye, Minister of Water and Sanitation of Senegal; Kamal Kishore, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction; Dr. Musonda Mumba, Secretary-General of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands; and Prof. Mark Zeitoun, Director-General of the Geneva Water Hub. The meetings focused on strengthening cooperation around shared water resources and building institutional partnerships.
On 17th October, Balalaa chaired a UAE-led roundtable with Geneva-based stakeholders and experts to advance preparations for the 2026 UN Water Conference. The discussion aimed at leveraging Geneva’s expertise to identify practical contributions and partnerships, fostering inclusive and action-oriented dialogue. The outcomes of these discussions will inform the conference’s preparatory process through a forthcoming ‘Geneva Inputs to 2026’ summary, highlighting the UAE’s commitment to global water cooperation and resilience.
Balalaa stated that water diplomacy is intrinsically linked to peace diplomacy, connecting humanitarian, development, and water-sector actions to prevent crises and build resilience. He noted that Geneva’s unique ecosystem of humanitarian, environmental, and peacebuilding institutions has the potential to transform water policy into impactful real-world actions. The 2026 UN Water Conference is expected to be a transformative platform for accelerating global water action and strengthening cross-sectoral collaboration.
The UAE remains committed to advancing global water security, multilateral cooperation, and sustainable development, utilizing international platforms to drive collective action ahead of the 2026 UN Water Conference.