The UN Water Conference has already begun: reflections on the UAE’s high-level panel at World Water Week

Published on the website of the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), this reflection looks back on “2026 UN Water Conference: Where the Future Will Be Built”, the high-level panel the UAE convened at World Water Week in Stockholm. Opened by H.E. Abdulla Balalaa, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability, it brought together H.E. Dr Abdulla Al Jarwan of the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy, European Commissioner Jessika Roswall, and voices from youth, civil society, climate finance and research, with closing remarks from Senegal’s Sherpa for the conference.

Its argument is that the conference’s success depends on the preparation done before delegates arrive in Abu Dhabi. Commitments only become services and resilience with working institutions, better data, the right technology, finance and cooperation across sectors and borders, and water cannot be handled apart from food, energy, climate and health. The months ahead should be used to build partnerships and stronger commitments: the real measure of Abu Dhabi, the piece concludes, will be what it makes possible after its three days.