The $6.7 trillion question 💰
As Abu Dhabi prepares to welcome the world to the 2026 UN Water Conference this December, one question is coming into focus – how do we turn the world’s water challenges into investment opportunities that deliver real impact?
Did you know, an estimated $6.7 trillion in financing is needed to close the gap between the world’s water goals and the investment available to achieve them?
At last week’s IMF and World Bank Group Annual Meetings in Bangkok, the UAE called for stronger collaboration between governments and the private sector to unlock the capital needed to deliver water solutions at scale. Here’s what His Excellency Abdulla Balalaa, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability, had to say:
“When government, business, and stakeholders work together early enough, it becomes possible to turn a water challenge into a practical investment opportunity.”
From effective regulation to stronger project pipelines, it is essential for the right conditions for investment to be created to deliver water solutions at scale. Central to the Conference in December, “Investments for Water” features as one of the six dedicated Interactive Dialogues, taking this conversation forward.
