UAE highlights 2026 UN Water Conference at South Asia innovation forum

LALITPUR, June 22: The Embassy of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Kathmandu highlighted the upcoming 2026 United Nations Water Conference during a regional dialogue on agrifood and water innovation held in Lalitpur.

The event brought together representatives from governments, international organisations, research institutions, financial institutions, civil society and the private sector to discuss strategies for expanding agrifood and water innovations across South Asia.

Addressing participants, the UAE Embassy underscored the importance of the 2026 UN Water Conference and reaffirmed the UAE's commitment to advancing international cooperation on water security, climate resilience and sustainable development.

The Embassy informed delegates that the conference, scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi in late 2026, will be only the third United Nations Water Conference in history. The event will be co-hosted by the UAE and Senegal and will focus on accelerating progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6), which seeks to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

The event titled Capacity Sharing for Scaling Agrifood and Water Innovations in South Asia, was organised by the CGIAR Scaling Hub South Asia at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD). According to the Embassy, the conference will centre on six themes adopted by the United Nations: Water for People, Water for Prosperity, Water for Planet, Water for Cooperation, Water in Multilateral Processes, and Investments for Water.

The themes reflect global efforts to improve equitable access to water resources, strengthen climate resilience, promote cross-border cooperation, mobilise investment and integrate water-related priorities into international policymaking processes.

The Embassy, which co-hosted the event, noted that the Abu Dhabi conference will provide a platform for governments, international organisations, scientists, development partners and private-sector stakeholders to exchange knowledge and forge partnerships aimed at addressing growing global water challenges.

Reiterating the UAE's commitment to sustainable development, the Embassy said it remains dedicated to supporting regional and international cooperation to advance food security, water security and climate resilience.

The event also held extensive discussions on responsible scaling, enabling policy frameworks and practical approaches to transforming successful agrifood and water innovations into sustainable, large-scale solutions benefiting communities across South Asia.