Abu dhabi: The United Arab Emirates participated this week in World Water Week 2026 in Stockholm, as part of preparations for the 2026 United Nations Water Conference, which will be held in Abu Dhabi this December. The UAE participated with an official delegation led by Abdulla Balalaa, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability. The delegation joined international leaders, executives from the financial and business sectors, policymakers, researchers, and representatives of civil society to take part in one of the world's foremost gatherings on water, sustainability, and development.
According to Emirates News Agency, this year's World Water Week was held under the theme 'Water for People and Progress', focusing on the role of water in supporting economic growth, public health, food security, energy systems, climate resilience, and long-term prosperity. The week provided a platform to examine how innovation, investment, policy, and partnership can help accelerate progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 6, which aims to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
The UAE actively participated in the opening of World Water Week, with Balalaa taking part in the opening ceremony and chairing a high-level ministerial panel titled 'The 2026 UN Water Conference: Where the Future Will Be Built'. The panel brought together the Conference co-hosts, Interactive Dialogue co-chairs, government representatives, and key partners to discuss ways to accelerate implementation through investment, innovation, capacity-building, and cross-sectoral cooperation.
During the high-level session, Balalaa outlined his vision for the success of the 2026 United Nations Water Conference, stating that success will be measured by the partnerships and projects that move towards implementation, the finance that scales solutions and creates new opportunities and jobs, and the tangible impact on people's lives.
Representatives and delegates from several UAE entities also participated in this year's World Water Week, including the Department of Energy, the Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative, Clean Rivers, and the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy. The Department of Energy Abu Dhabi will host the first edition of Abu Dhabi Water and Power Week as part of the 2026 United Nations Water Conference.
Discussions during the week underscored the growing global recognition that water is a strategic economic, financial, and development priority. Balalaa also participated in the launch of the Global Water Investment Platform, highlighting the role of blended finance and de-risking mechanisms in catalysing investment in climate-resilient water projects.
The UAE's participation in Stockholm included a range of sessions and bilateral meetings. Balalaa met with Timur Butunbaev, Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration of Uzbekistan; Daniel Westl©n, State Secretary for Climate, Environment and Food Security of Sweden; Annette Schneider Lorentzi, Chair of the Board of the Stockholm Water Foundation; and Professor Tshilidzi Marwala, Rector of the United Nations University.
The UAE's participation in Stockholm followed a series of major international water-related meetings and events held this year, including the Africa Water and Sanitation Systems Leadership Symposium in Kigali, Rwanda, Japan's Water Day celebration, and the United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in New York.
World Water Week in Stockholm also marked the launch of registration for 'The Oasis', the open zone of the 2026 United Nations Water Conference in Abu Dhabi. The Oasis will bring together innovators, investors, thought leaders, policymakers, and experts from across sectors, alongside young minds, for three days of interactive exhibitions and diverse programming from 8 to 10 December, running alongside the United Nations Blue Zone at the 2026 United Nations Water Conference.