{
  "id": 9654234,
  "title": "GCC member states in talks over water co-operation, says senior UAE official",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/24/gcc-member-states-in-talks-over-water-co-operation-says-senior-uae",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-24T23:19:21.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National UAE",
    "slug": "the-national-uae",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/uae/2026/09/24/gcc-member-states-in-talks-over-water-co-operation-says-senior-uae-official/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Senior UAE official Abdulla Balalaa reported on Thursday that Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states are engaged in talks to establish a framework for water cooperation. The discussions, held during the UN General Assembly in New York, aim to emulate the GCC's successful model of power cooperation in the realm of water resources management. Balalaa emphasized that replicating this co-operation in water is a significant step forward.\n\nThe 2026 UN Water Conference, co-hosted by the UAE and Senegal in Abu Dhabi in December, is the first of its kind to be hosted by nations of the Global South. In the lead-up to this conference, the UAE has been advocating for heightened attention to water security and conservation as part of its foreign policy objectives during the high-level UN General Assembly week. Despite achieving 100% coverage for safe water and sanitation, the UAE remains acutely aware of water scarcity issues and is committed to addressing the global challenge.\n\nBalalaa highlighted that water shortage is a worldwide problem that affects all nations, no one being entirely immune to its consequences. He called for a collaborative approach to tackle the issue, urging greater involvement from the private sector, regulatory frameworks to facilitate access to capital, and technology owners and innovators to showcase their solutions. By fostering international cooperation, Balalaa believes that the UAE and other member states can make meaningful progress in ensuring access to water for millions in need.",
  "summary": "Member states of the Gulf Co-operation Council are in talks to create a process around water co-operation, a senior UAE official said on Thursday. On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, Abdulla Balalaa, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability, told reporters that GCC member states were in discussions on a water-sharing initiative, aimed at replicating…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The National Business",
        "title": "GCC member states in talks over water co-operation, says senior UAE official",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/24/gcc-member-states-in-talks-over-water-co-operation-says-senior-uae-9654637",
        "published": "2026-09-24T23:19:21.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}