UAE and World Economic Forum Sign MoU to Drive Water Finance Ahead of 2026 UN Conference
DUBAI, UAE — January 24, 2026 — The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the World Economic Forum announced a partnership to strengthen public-private collaboration on water financing, signed January 20 at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos. Abdulla Balalaa, UAE Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability, formalized the Memorandum of Understanding to mobilize investments and de-risk innovations ahead of the 2026 UN Water Conference, co-hosted by the UAE and Senegal.
Announcement Specifics
The MoU establishes a framework for high-level engagements at WEF Annual Meetings 2026, including a dedicated session at the UAE Pavilion titled “Unlocking Water Finance and Investments: Strengthening Public-Private Collaboration toward the 2026 UNWC.” The partnership convened leaders from governments, multilateral banks, philanthropies, the private sector, and NGOs to discuss scaling water finance mechanisms. The UAE and Senegal co-convened a roundtable session, “Financing Resilience: A New Reality for Water,” with WaterAid. Insights from these discussions will feed into the Dakar preparatory meeting scheduled for January 26-27, 2026.
Stakeholder Perspective
“Let’s move water from the margins of our discussions to the center of our decisions. To meet our collective global water-related goals, we must go beyond projects and build platforms, de-risking investments and innovation and empowering countries to deliver at pace and scale. The 2026 UN Water Conference will serve as a global moment for public and private actors to deliver new solutions, mobilise capital, and strengthen collaboration across the water ecosystem. This is our opportunity to work together – across sectors and institutions – to turn ambition into impact.”
— Abdulla Balalaa, UAE Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability
Why it matters: The statement signals a strategic pivot from fragmented water projects to integrated investment platforms designed to attract institutional capital at scale.
Industry Context
Global water security faces escalating pressure from climate variability and resource scarcity, demanding urgent coordination between public institutions and private capital. The UAE’s initiative positions the nation as a diplomatic convener in sustainable finance, aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goals focused on water access and resilience. For MENA’s water-stressed economies, the UAE model of investment mobilization offers a replicable framework for technology transfer and cross-border collaboration. The Davos momentum reflects a broader shift toward de-risking mechanisms that enable private sector participation in infrastructure traditionally dominated by public spending.
The partnership accelerates regional water innovation across the GCC, creating pathways for shared investment vehicles and technology deployment in markets from Riyadh to Abu Dhabi.
Conclusion
The MoU sets the foundation for actionable outcomes at the 2026 UN Water Conference, with the UAE and WEF targeting scaled capital flows and collaborative platforms to address global water challenges through the Dakar preparatory process.
Sources: Zawya, UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, WAM, Economy Middle East
