2026 UN Water Conference

Event details:

From Tuesday, December 8, 2026 to Thursday, December 10, 2026

In person

Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) - Khaleej Al Arabi street, BP 5546 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

iCal Outlook Google Yahoo!
To know more

The 2026 United Nations Water Conference will take place from 8 to 10 December 2026 in Abu Dhabi, co-organised by the United Arab Emirates and Senegal.

The aim? To accelerate progress towards achieving SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation for all). Despite progress since 2015, 2.1 billion people still lack access to safely managed drinking water and 3.4 billion lack access to safe sanitation – a situation exacerbated by climate change and population pressure.

The event will bring together global decision-makers for seven plenary sessions and six interactive dialogues, which are:

  • Water for People
  • Water for Prosperity
  • Water for Planet
  • Water for cooperation
  • Water in Multilateral Processes
  • Investments For Water

Side events: 2 sessions co-organised by INBO

Integrating satellite data monitoring into basin management

Faced with growing pressure from climate change and demand for water, satellite-based Earth observation helps to fill gaps in data within basins, particularly in remote areas.

Complementing field measurements, this technology provides regular and targeted information to monitor water availability and quality, analyse hydrological dynamics and anticipate droughts and floods.

This side event, organised by the European Space Agency and INBO, will address the operational implementation of these space-based tools in support of Integrated Water Resources Management, climate resilience and decision-making.

💡‘Integrating satellite data monitoring into basin management: Earth observation in the service of climate change adaptation’

📅Tuesday 8 December

⏰5.15 pm – 6.30 pm

Cooperation at the basin level: operational tools and approaches

For Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) to succeed at the basin level, it is essential to combine strong cooperation with concrete operational measures: the collection of data (satellite data and field measurements), shared information systems, joint planning for surface and groundwater, the deployment of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) and the use of non-conventional resources (wastewater reuse, desalination).

In line with the major ‘Basins for Cooperation’ initiative and SDG 6.5, this meeting – led by Lesotho and co-organised by INBO – will highlight progress in inter-basin cooperation whilst showcasing proven mechanisms for sustainably balancing human uses, ecosystem conservation and adaptation to climate change.


💡'Cooperation at the basin level: operational tools and approaches'

📅Wednesday 9 December

⏰12.00–1.15 pm

Side events: active participation by INBO

  • ‘Scientific cooperation on water: strengthening countries’ commitment through collaboration on knowledge and action’, led by the Government of Flanders (Belgium) (Tuesday 8 December, 3.30 pm – 4.45 pm)
  • ‘Full steam ahead: accelerating capacity-building for water security’, led by Panama and UNESCO’s IHP (Tuesday 8 December, 3.30 pm – 4.45 pm)
  • ‘Cross-border cooperation on water is bearing fruit: a commitment across borders to achieve SDG 6’, led by Namibia (Tuesday 8 December, 5.15 pm – 6.30 pm)
  • ‘River of Safety, River of Life, River of Happiness’, led by the China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research (IWHR) (Wednesday 9 December, 10.15 am – 11.30 am)
  • ‘Beyond averages: towards inclusive, participatory and evidence-based water governance’, led by Brazil (Wednesday 9 December, 1.45 pm – 3.00 pm)
  • ‘Beyond conventional water supply: alternative water sources as a climate resilience strategy’, led by IDRA (International Desalination and Reuse Association) (Thursday 10 December, 3.30 pm to 4.45 pm)

The International Network of River Basin Organizations (INBO)

The International Network of River Basin Organizations (INBO) is a non-profit association governed by French law, with its Permanent Technical Secretariat provided by the International Office for Water (OiEau). It brings together 192 members across 88 countries.

INBO has, for over 30 years, placed the promotion and support of the implementation of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in national and transboundary river basins at the heart of its public interest mission.

to know more

FaQ

The 2026 United Nations Water Conference (officially titled ‘United Nations Water Conference 2026 to Accelerate the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 6: Ensuring access to water and sanitation for all and ensuring sustainable water resource management”) is a major international summit to be held in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) from 8 to 10 December 2026, co-organised by the United Arab Emirates and Senegal.

The conference brings together all key stakeholders from around the world. These include governments, the United Nations system and intergovernmental organisations, as well as international financial institutions, philanthropic foundations and the private sector. The academic and scientific communities are also taking part, alongside civil society, NGOs, indigenous peoples and local communities. They are all coming together to assess the major challenges and accelerate the implementation of SDG 6 and the water-related goals of the 2030 Agenda.

The conference aims to strengthen international cooperation, mobilise substantial financial investment and promote innovative solutions to growing challenges such as climate change, pollution, population growth and pressure on water resources.

The International Network of River Basin Organizations, for which OiEau acts as the Permanent Technical Secretariat, is involved in various side events:


  • Side event No. 1: ‘Scientific cooperation on water: strengthening countries’ commitment through collaboration on knowledge and action’, led by the Government of Flanders (Belgium) (Tuesday 8 December, 3.30 pm – 4.45 pm)
  • Side event No. 2: ‘Full steam ahead: accelerating capacity-building for water security’, led by Panama and UNESCO’s IHP (Tuesday 8 December, 3.30 pm – 4.45 pm)
  • Side event No. 3: ‘Integrating satellite data monitoring into basin management: Earth observation in the service of climate change adaptation’, led by the European Space Agency and INBO (Tuesday 8 December, 5.15 pm – 6.30 pm)
  • Side event No. 4: ‘Cross-border cooperation on water is bearing fruit: a commitment across borders to achieve SDG 6’, led by Namibia (Tuesday 8 December, 5.15 pm – 6.30 pm)
  • Side event No. 5: ‘River of Safety, River of Life, River of Happiness’, led by the China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research (IWHR) (Wednesday 9 December, 10.15 am – 11.30 am)
  • Side event No. 6: ‘Cooperation at the basin level: operational tools and approaches’, led by Lesotho and INBO (Wednesday 9 December, 12.00–1.15 pm)
  • Side event No. 7: ‘Beyond averages: towards inclusive, participatory and evidence-based water governance’, led by Brazil (Wednesday 9 December, 1.45 pm – 3.00 pm)
  • Side event No. 8: ‘Beyond conventional water supply: alternative water sources as a climate resilience strategy’, led by IDRA (International Desalination and Reuse Association) (Thursday 10 December, 3.30 pm to 4.45 pm)
s