The 9th World Water Forum will be held mainly in sites located in the new Diamniadio Urban Pole, a project within the framework of the Emerging Senegal Plan. This is a new city integrated some thirty kilometres from Dakar city centre, which includes, among others, administrative districts, mixed housing areas, industrial zones, universities and research centres, business areas, etc.
The Diamniado sites that will host the Forum are the Abdou Diouf International Conference Centre, the new Exhibition Centre, the new Sports Centre, etc. Diamniadio is the new city imagined by the Senegalese government to relieve Dakar and its 4 million inhabitants. Built on 2,000 hectares, it is located thirty kilometres from the capital and should eventually house 350,000 inhabitants.
Alongside the toll motorway linking Dakar to Diamniadio since August 2013, the electrified link of the Regional Express Train (TER) is the other major means of transport that will serve the new city and its airport.
Abdou DIOUF International Conference Centre
With an imposing architectural complex of 20,000 m2 including more than 12,000 m2 of built area on 58 ha, the Diamniadio International Conference Centre has a 1500-seat amphitheatre and numerous meeting rooms. This new modern conference centre hosted the 15th Francophonie Summit on 28 and 29 November 2014.
This jewel, Senegal's first intelligent building, serves as a laboratory for the country's energy mix policy. It allows the new energy mix policy to be tested on a small scale. The centre operates with solar energy during the day and water for irrigation and certain uses is produced from a borehole powered by wind energy.
20,000 m2 Exhibition Centre
A 20,000 m2 exhibition park will be able to host in the best conditions the trade fairs and exhibitions that will be held in Senegal, which wants to be a hub in terms of service and holding international events. The Exhibition Centre is located next to the Abdou Diouf International Conference Centre and will be able to host some of the events organised within the framework of the Forum.
Multifunctional Sports Palace
Dakar Arena, Diamniado's multifunctional sports palace is erected on an area of 11.5 hectares with a total capacity of 15,000 seats. It can also be used during the Forum.
