Delivered By: Saif Hasan Alnuaimi, Attaché

Madam Chair,

Digital transformation is reshaping how countries grow, deliver services, and respond to crises. To make it a driver of the Sustainable Development Goals, we need sustained investment in affordable and reliable connectivity, digital skills and secure digital public infrastructure.

Moreover, connectivity alone is not enough. Digital inclusion must also translate into practical benefits for the communities it serves. Artificial Intelligence, in particular, stands out for its potential to accelerate progress on the SDGs, in fields such as climate adaptation, education, healthcare and agriculture, where the UAE has developed partnerships that translate agricultural data into solutions tailored to farmers’ needs, aligned with national development priorities.

For such opportunities to be fully realized, developing countries will need the capacities, skills and infrastructure to develop and manage AI domestically, not just to consume it. It was with this in mind that the UAE launched a one billion dollar initiative to expand AI infrastructure and AI-enabled services across African countries.

At the same time, the rapid advancement of AI calls for new safety protocols and common standards for its responsible use. The protection of women and girls, youth, and persons with disabilities is of particular concern.

Both opportunity and safety should be taken forward at the Global Dialogue on AI Governance in 2027, which serves as our only platform in which every country has a voice in shaping how AI serves development.

Lastly, responsible deployment must also address the energy and water demands of digital infrastructure, an issue highlighted in the UAE’s recently published report Crosscurrents, which tackles the AI-Water-Energy Nexus. At the same time, digital technologies are among the most powerful tools we have to manage water: AI forecasting, satellite data and smart monitoring can help countries anticipate droughts, reduce losses and plan resources more efficiently.

As the UAE and Senegal prepare to co-host the 2026 UN Water Conference in Abu Dhabi from 8 to 10 December, our ambition will be to bring these solutions to scale. For the first time, the Conference will include an interactive dialogue dedicated to investments and technology for water. We encourage Member States to participate in the Conference at the highest level and look forward to welcoming you there.

Thank you.