At a high-level event during the United Nations General Assembly, Saudi Arabia and Senegal jointly urged the international community to enhance cooperation on global water challenges. These challenges include water scarcity, rising demand, and limited access to safe water, which the countries argue are critical issues intersecting with international security, economic development, and community resilience.
Saudi Deputy Minister for International Multilateral Affairs Abdulrahman Al-Rassi emphasized the necessity of treating water security as a priority, stressing that addressing the global water crisis requires more than just increasing water availability. He pointed to the importance of better governance, technology, accessibility, and international collaboration. Al-Rassi highlighted Saudi Arabia’s initiatives in managing water scarcity through desalination, technological investments, and the National Water Strategy 2030.
Senegal echoed the call for prioritizing water issues in international policymaking, noting the increasing intersection of water challenges with climate change, economic development, and social stability. The discussions underscored the importance of cooperation over shared water resources, with Senegal highlighting transboundary water management as a successful model for countries to collaboratively tackle common challenges.
Retno Marsudi, the UN’s special envoy on water, remarked on the slow progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goal on water and sanitation. She highlighted the ongoing issue of millions worldwide lacking access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation, reinforcing the need for more robust collective action.
Looking ahead, Saudi Arabia is set to host the 11th World Water Forum in March 2027. Meanwhile, Senegal and the United Arab Emirates will co-host the 2026 UN Water Conference in Abu Dhabi, events that further emphasize the ongoing global dialogue and efforts needed to address critical water issues.