UAE Showcases Global Leadership in Land Stewardship, Climate Finance, Water Security at UNCCD COP17 in Mongolia
UAE showcases its global leadership in land stewardship, climate finance, and water security at the seventeenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Ulaanbaatar.
Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, led a UAE delegation to this event. The participation emphasizes the country’s commitment to driving global land restoration, drought resilience, and cross-convention environmental action.
Convening from August 17th to 28th, 2026, COP17 is a significant milestone, marking the opening of the historic 2026 Rio Conventions Trio Year. The summit gathers representatives from the 197 Parties to address land degradation, desertification, and water scarcity, which impact over 40% of the world’s landmass.
Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak stated,
“The UAE‘s active engagement at COP17 in Ulaanbaatar reinforces our shared determination to confront land degradation and drought with tangible solutions. In the UAE, our hyper-arid environment has taught us that protecting soil health, restoring ecosystems, and securing water resources are crucial for sustainable development. … We remain committed to serving as an inclusive global convener, uniting governments, financial institutions, and civil society to bridge the financing gap and elevate water and land resilience on the international agenda.”
The UAE delegation included Mohammed Sultan Al Qurtasi Al Nuaimi, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Mongolia, and Dr. Mohammed Salman Al Hammadi, Assistant Under-Secretary for the food Diversity Sector at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment.
