UAE Champions Water Security Through AI and Investment at UN General Assembly
The United Arab Emirates has concluded pivotal discussions at the 81st UN General Assembly, positioning water, artificial intelligence and energy as cornerstones of global cooperation ahead of the 2026 UN Water Conference.
The United Arab Emirates has concluded a significant week of high-level engagement during the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly, bringing together governments, businesses, investors, innovators, humanitarian organisations, researchers and civil society to advance preparations for the 2026 United Nations Water Conference.
Led by Abdulla Balalaa, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability, the UAE delegation orchestrated discussions centred on building political will, mobilising investment, and advancing technology and artificial intelligence, with particular emphasis on humanitarian needs through partnership with UNICEF.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs organised a humanitarian-focused event titled ‘From Response to Resilience: Transforming Investments for Water in Fragile and Humanitarian Settings’, demonstrating how funding and investment can combine with capacity building, technology, localisation, and nature-based solutions to create meaningful impact in vulnerable regions.
At United Nations Headquarters, Balalaa convened a high-level session entitled ‘Water as a Strategic Imperative: From Global Challenges to Collective Action’, bringing together Member States, international organisations, and senior panellists including the African Union Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment; the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council; the Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of UNESCWA; and the Managing Director of Operations at the World Bank.
Addressing the convergence of water, energy and artificial intelligence, Balalaa emphasised that the challenge lies not in innovation but in implementation and scaling. He noted that governments alone cannot meet the investment required to build resilient water systems globally, calling upon commercial banks, institutional investors, development finance institutions, multilateral development banks, philanthropies and the private sector to prioritise water as an economic investment opportunity.
The UAE delegation organised multiple sessions exploring the interconnection between AI, water and energy, engaging private sector leaders, innovators, financial institutions and youth. At Goals House, Balalaa joined leaders from Microsoft, 500 Global and Xatoms to discuss how innovation, investment and responsible resource management must advance in concert.
Describing the AI transformation as fundamentally a water transformation, Balalaa articulated how the 2026 UN Water Conference positions the AI-water-energy nexus centrally, examining not only how AI can accelerate economies, but how it can future-proof water and energy infrastructure supporting critical digital infrastructure. He highlighted how properly implemented data centres can become platforms for local innovation, enabling cities to reduce water and energy consumption whilst strengthening resilience.
Additional engagements included meetings with New York University Abu Dhabi students and an academic carnival featuring research and digital innovations from UAE universities advancing water resilience. Registration for the 2026 UN Water Conference’s Oasis is now open and available free of charge through the official Conference website.
Source: WAM