IAEA affirms UAE’s mastery of nuclear safety regulation after five years of Barakah operations

An international peer review has recognised the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation's sophisticated approach to learning from operational experience and strengthening safety frameworks at the four-unit plant

The sophistication of nuclear regulation lies not in its rules alone, but in how carefully those rules evolve. For the United Arab Emirates, this evolution has been evident since the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant began its first commercial operations in April 2021, and the International Atomic Energy Agency has now formally recognised the progress made by the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation in translating five years of operational experience into ever stronger safety measures.

An IAEA Peer Review of Operational Safety Performance Experience mission, hosted by FANR, assessed how systematically the regulator captures, evaluates and applies lessons learned from Barakah’s operations. The international review team identified considerable strengths in FANR’s regulatory practices, particularly its established operating experience programme, clearly defined responsibilities, and the thoughtful integration of lessons learned into management processes.

Since all four units achieved commercial operation in September 2024, Barakah has become a cornerstone of the UAE’s energy landscape, now providing approximately 25% of the country’s electricity needs. This achievement represents far more than an engineering feat; it reflects a deeper commitment to building institutional knowledge and capability in the peaceful use of nuclear energy. As we reported in November, Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed emphasised the UAE’s dedication to developing national expertise and maintaining regulatory excellence, principles that the IAEA’s assessment validates.

The mission also identified opportunities for further refinement in several areas, including staff qualification requirements, the assessment of human and organisational factors, and systems for identifying and analysing relevant operational experience. Rather than viewing these as shortcomings, FANR regards them as pathways to continuous improvement, reflecting the regulator’s proactive stance towards strengthening safety throughout the operational lifetime of nuclear facilities.

This recognition builds upon earlier commendations. In October, IAEA experts commended the UAE’s exemplary emergency preparedness and response capabilities, and in September, FANR presented the AI-driven IONS monitoring system at the IAEA General Conference, signalling how the UAE combines traditional regulatory wisdom with technological innovation.

The PROSPER mission underscores the UAE’s longstanding commitment to international peer reviews, transparency and the exchange of regulatory knowledge. As the nation’s independent nuclear regulator, FANR ensures that the entire programme operates according to national regulations and international safety standards, with the protection of the public and the environment as its paramount concern.

What it means for Abu Dhabi

The IAEA’s recognition strengthens Abu Dhabi’s position as a responsible steward of nuclear technology in the Middle East. By systematically learning from five years of operational experience and demonstrating the robustness of its regulatory framework to international scrutiny, the UAE has set a benchmark for how emerging nuclear nations can build credible, sustainable programmes. This endorsement enhances international confidence in the safety and reliability of the Barakah plant, supporting the UAE’s broader energy security and climate goals.

For Abu Dhabi’s residents and businesses, the assessment affirms that their electricity supply from Barakah is underpinned by rigorous, internationally validated safety practices. As Barakah provides a quarter of the nation’s power and the UAE continues to balance energy demand with sustainability, the regulat framework’s proven effectiveness means both security of supply and environmental responsibility are being pursued with equal seriousness.

Source: WAM