UAE, Netherlands deepen cooperation on water, energy and climate

A senior UAE official has concluded a visit to the Netherlands focused on expanding cooperation in water security, energy and climate resilience ahead of the 2026 UN Water Conference in Abu Dhabi.

Abdulla Balalaa, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability, held meetings with Dutch ministers and officials during the two-day visit, which also included discussions with research institutions and organisations involved in water management and climate adaptation.

Talks focused on strengthening cooperation in areas including water scarcity, renewable energy, climate resilience and food security.

The visit comes as the UAE prepares to co-host the 2026 United Nations Water Conference alongside Senegal.

During the trip, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy and the IHE Delft Institute for Water Education to expand cooperation in water diplomacy, training and research.

A UAE-Netherlands Energy Dialogue was also held in Rotterdam, bringing together government officials, academics and industry representatives to discuss energy systems, supply chains and resource security.

According to UAE officials, non-oil trade between the UAE and the Netherlands increased by nearly seven percent in 2025 compared with the previous year.

Balalaa said the discussions focused on building more resilient systems capable of responding to global challenges linked to energy, water and climate change.

The UAE and the Netherlands have maintained close cooperation in sectors including energy, trade and sustainability in recent years.