Selected from over 2,000 applicants, the cohort will undergo two months of preparation to bring youth priorities and local water realities into the global dialogue
Abu Dhabi, 29 September 2026
The Arab Youth Center (AYC) today announced the selection of 100 young leaders representing 75 countries across six global regions for the Global Youth Water Envoys Program. The cohort will prepare to contribute youth perspectives and recommendations to the 2026 United Nations Water Conference, co-hosted by the United Arab Emirates and the Republic of Senegal in Abu Dhabi from 8 to 10 December.
Selected from over 2,000 applicants, the Envoys bring experience in research, public policy, engineering, entrepreneurship and community programs. They will undertake a structured learning journey during October and November, combining foundational training with specialised study aligned with the conference’s six Interactive Dialogues.
The cohort was formally welcomed during a virtual press conference and Welcome Ceremony. Opening remarks were delivered by H.E. Dr Sultan bin Saif Al Neyadi, UAE Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Vice Chairman of the Arab Youth Center, and H.E. Abdulla Balalaa, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability.
Eng. Fatima Al Hallami, Executive Director of the AYC, presented the program’s selection milestones and learning journey. Representatives of the program’s enabling partners and two selected Envoys also addressed the gathering.
Launched by AYC during the UN High-Level Political Forum in New York in July 2026, the program is organised in strategic partnership with the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and supported by the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), WaterAid and Green Youth Africa Organization. It prepares young people to contribute to global water policy discussions and advance Sustainable Development Goal 6 on clean water and sanitation for all.
Investing in young people’s contribution
Addressing the selected Envoys during the virtual press conference, H.E. Dr Sultan bin Saif Al Neyadi said: “The Global Youth Water Envoys will attend the 2026 United Nations Water Conference as informed contributors, prepared to challenge assumptions and represent the realities of communities that are too often discussed without being adequately heard. The value of their participation will be defined by the knowledge they bring, the rigour of their preparation and their ability to translate experience into proposals that decision-makers can act upon. This programme reflects the UAE’s commitment to equipping young people to contribute meaningfully to international cooperation and influence the decisions that will shape their future.”
Connecting youth expertise with water diplomacy
The program connects the Envoys’ professional and community experience with the international discussions taking place at the conference.
Speaking during the press conference, H.E. Abdulla Balalaa said: “With this program, the UAE is launching a platform where young leaders can deeply engage in global water diplomacy in a constructive and transformative way, towards the 2026 UN Water Conference and beyond. For too long, youth voices have been on the side lines, listening to speeches and taking notes. That ends now. We want you to speak your mind. We want you to challenge yourself. We want you to bring forward new ideas. And we want you to be part of the decision-making. Because you are the generation that will not only inherit the decisions we make today. You will be the generation to shape what comes next.
The Envoys bring perspectives grounded in research, public institutions, community delivery and direct exposure to water challenges across regions. As we advance towards Abu Dhabi, our focus is to equip them to contribute to the substance and outcomes of the 2026 United Nations Water Conference.”
A cohort with diverse expertise
The cohort spans six global regions, with representation from Africa, the Arab States, and Asia and the Pacific. Countries represented include Morocco, Jordan, Sierra Leone, Palestine, Indonesia, the Solomon Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, along with Bolivia and the Netherlands.
The Envoys bring knowledge of hydrology, environmental law, engineering and water governance, alongside practical experience in public institutions, international organisations and community programs. The cohort also includes founders developing water-related ventures and initiatives.
This mix of backgrounds will support peer learning throughout the program, allowing participants to examine water priorities through scientific, policy, financial and community perspectives.
An international selection process
Following an initial assessment of eligibility and application completeness, shortlisted applications underwent an extensive and detailed review process conducted by an independent selection committee comprising 20 representatives from 12 leading partner organisations across the water and youth sectors. The multi-stage process was designed to ensure a fair, transparent and unbiased assessment of all eligible applications, drawing on diverse expertise from organisations including AJPEAS, GAYO, the International Secretariat for Water, IWA, the Latin America and the Caribbean Youth Parliament for Water, the UN Major Group for Children and Youth, UNEP, UNESCO, UNICEF, WaterAid, WaterAid Pan Africa, and the World Water Council.
Two months of focused preparation
The virtual learning journey will begin with foundational training before progressing into specialised tracks. Live sessions will be supported by independent learning resources, practical work and coaching.
Outlining the program during the press conference, Eng. Fatima Al Hallami said: “At the Arab Youth Center, our responsibility is to make this experience valuable for every envoy. We want you to understand how global water policy takes shape and where your expertise can contribute. The learning journey we have developed with Bon Education is designed around that purpose.”
She added: “We have placed practical application at the centre of this approach. When you examine a water technology, for example, you will consider its financing and its use in a community. You will draw on different perspectives to understand what makes an idea work in practice.”
Envoy perspectives
The Envoys’ contributions highlighted opportunities to strengthen water governance through scientific evidence and investment.
Fatima Behzad Afghan, an Envoy from the UAE, works on the planning and design of stormwater and wastewater infrastructure and serves as President of the Dubai Municipality Youth Council. Speaking about the priorities she hopes to bring to the conference, she said: “Attracting investment in water infrastructure requires clear frameworks that reduce risk and recognise the long-term value of resilient systems. I hope the conference advances public-private partnerships that support wastewater and stormwater projects, with water reuse and future growth built into national planning. Learning from peers across the sector will help me contribute to these discussions.”
Lissong Diop, an Envoy from Senegal, is a PhD student researching how Earth observation and artificial intelligence can help assess water availability in the Ferlo pastoral region. On bringing this knowledge into water decisions, she said: “Making scientific data accessible can help more people contribute to water decisions. Earth observation offers valuable evidence, while pastoral communities bring knowledge rooted in experience. Through this program, I hope to explore how both can inform water governance, drawing on Senegal’s experience and learning from other regions.”
Developing collective recommendations
The Envoys’ learning and discussions will feed into six thematic youth statements and a consolidated Global Youth Water Statement. These outputs will bring together evidence, shared priorities and recommendations developed across the cohort in preparation for their conference contributions.
The Global Youth Water Envoys Program is organised and led by the Arab Youth Center in strategic partnership with the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. CIFF, GAYO and WaterAid serve as enabling partners, with Bon Education supporting the program’s learning design and capacity-building delivery.
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About the Global Youth Water Envoys Program
The Global Youth Water Envoys Program is an initiative led by the Arab Youth Center in strategic partnership with the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and supported by the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation. Launched in July 2026, it brings together 100 young leaders from six global regions to strengthen youth participation in international water policy. Through training, expert engagement and collaboration, the programme prepares Envoys to contribute to the 2026 United Nations Water Conference, co-hosted by the UAE and Senegal in Abu Dhabi, and develop a Global Youth Water Statement. It supports progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 6 on clean water and sanitation for all.
About Arab Youth Center (AYC)
The Arab Youth Center (AYC) is a leading regional platform headquartered in Abu Dhabi, UAE, dedicated to empowering young Arabs through innovation, leadership and active citizenship. Under the chairmanship of His Highness Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, AYC works in partnership with governments, the private sector and civil society to deliver youth-focused programmes, research and initiatives that strengthen Arabic identity, language and skills for the future. The Centre supports Arab youth to become agents of positive change in their societies by building capability, fostering creativity and nurturing opportunities across the region.
About the 2026 UN Water Conference
Water is life. It is the foundation for human dignity, collective stability, and prosperity, and the invisible thread connecting our communities, economies, and shared future.
Co-hosted by the United Arab Emirates and Senegal, the 2026 UN Water Conference will take place in Abu Dhabi from 8–10 December 2026. It will be the third UN Water Conference since 1977, and the first UN Conference dedicated to accelerating implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 6: ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
The UAE and Senegal aspire to convene a Conference defined by action, advancing partnerships, investment, political commitments, and practical solutions that improve lives, restore ecosystems, and accelerate access to water and sanitation.
Every future flows from water. Abu Dhabi is where that future is built. Registration for The Oasis is open via www.unwaterconferenceuae.com.
