UAE's Ministry Of Foreign Affairs Advocates For Leadership In Global Water Crisis At International Conference

Abdulla Balalaa, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability, attended a ministerial meeting organised by the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. The focus was on addressing water security within the climate-nature-development nexus. This gathering emphasised the urgent need for collective action and leadership to tackle the global water crisis.

The meeting took place shortly before World Water Day on 22nd March. It was chaired by Baroness Chapman, the UK's Minister of State for International Development, Latin America and the Caribbean. Ministers from Morocco, Senegal, Nigeria, Nepal, and Bangladesh participated alongside senior leaders from the European Union and major international organisations like UNICEF and the World Bank.

Balalaa also attended a reception at Buckingham Palace hosted by King Charles III in partnership with WaterAid. The event focused on 'Water and Climate'. During discussions, Balalaa highlighted UAE's plans for the 2026 UN Water Conference. He stressed that this event aims to accelerate Sustainable Development Goal 6 implementation, noting its importance as a catalyst for global goals.

The ministerial meeting aimed to identify collaboration priorities over the next year. Participants sought a systemic shift in addressing water security across climate-nature-development areas. They agreed to leverage key moments in the coming year to advance clean water access and support all Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Participants committed to working in multi-stakeholder partnerships to drive scalable solutions to the water crisis. They also planned to cooperate with existing UN processes to integrate water more effectively into international agendas. These efforts aim to sustain progress in providing clean water globally.

The ministerial meeting followed an organisational session of the 2026 UN Water Conference held on 3rd March 2025 at UN Headquarters in New York. Over 70 participants, including Member States and stakeholders, shared recommendations for conference themes. These themes will be finalised at a preparatory meeting convened by the President of the General Assembly on 9th July 2025.

In summary, these discussions underscore a commitment to addressing water security challenges through collaboration and innovation. By focusing on sustainable solutions, participants aim to ensure clean water access worldwide while supporting broader environmental and economic goals.

With inputs from WAM