Abu Dhabi to Host 2026 UN Water Conference From December 8 to 10.
Abu Dhabi: One hundred young leaders from 75 countries have been selected from a pool of more than 2,000 applicants to take part in preparations for the 2026 United Nations Water Conference, the Arab Youth Center (AYC) announced during a virtual press conference on Tuesday.
Known as the Global Youth Water Envoys, the selected participants represent six regions around the world and will spend the next two months preparing to contribute to discussions and initiatives at the conference.
The 2026 UN Water Conference, co-hosted by the United Arab Emirates and Senegal, is scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi from December 8 to 10.
The Global Youth Water Envoys will participate in an online learning programme throughout October and November. The programme will begin with foundational training before moving into specialised areas linked to the UN Water Conference’s six Interactive Dialogues.
Their discussions are expected to result in six thematic youth statements, which will contribute to a consolidated Global Youth Water Statement reflecting young people’s perspectives and priorities on global water issues.
According to the Arab Youth Center (AYC), the selected participants come from diverse professional and academic backgrounds, including research, public policy, engineering, entrepreneurship and community programmes. Their areas of expertise range from hydrology and environmental law to water governance, while the group also includes founders of ventures focused on water-related solutions.
From more than 2,000 applicants to 100 envoys
The AYC said applications were initially reviewed for eligibility and completeness before shortlisted candidates progressed to the next stage of the selection process.
An independent committee comprising 20 representatives from 12 organisations working across the water and youth sectors then assessed the shortlisted applicants. Participating organisations included UNEP, UNESCO, UNICEF, WaterAid and the World Water Council. According to the AYC, the multi-stage selection process was structured to ensure fairness, transparency and impartiality.
The selected Envoys were formally welcomed during a virtual press conference and ceremony, where two participants addressed the gathering.
Fatima Behzad Afghan from the UAE, who works in stormwater and wastewater infrastructure design and serves as President of the Dubai Municipality Youth Council, said she hopes the conference will help strengthen public-private partnerships for wastewater and stormwater projects.
She highlighted the importance of establishing clear frameworks that can reduce investment risks while recognising the long-term benefits of resilient water infrastructure.
Lissong Diop of Senegal, a PhD student researching the use of Earth observation and artificial intelligence to evaluate water availability in the Ferlo pastoral region, highlighted the value of combining scientific evidence with local knowledge. He said both scientific data and the experience of pastoral communities can contribute to more effective water governance.
Officials’ remarks
Dr Sultan bin Saif Al Neyadi, UAE Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Vice Chairman of the Arab Youth Center, said the Envoys would participate in the conference as well-prepared and informed contributors.
He said the impact of their involvement would depend on the depth of their knowledge, the quality of their preparation and their ability to translate their experiences into practical proposals that policymakers can consider and act upon.
Abdulla Balalaa, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability, said young people had historically been on the margins of international water diplomacy. He said the UAE wants to change that approach by giving the Envoys an opportunity to participate meaningfully in the decision-making process.
Fatima Al Hallami, Executive Director of the AYC, said the programme’s curriculum is designed to encourage participants to examine water challenges from multiple perspectives.
She explained that when participants assess a water technology, for instance, they will consider not only the technology itself but also how it can be financed and applied within communities. By bringing together different perspectives, she said, the Envoys will be better positioned to understand what is required for an idea to succeed in practice.
