FANR Strengthens UAE’s Radiation Protection Framework Through Enhanced Monitoring Systems
The Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation convenes its Radiation Protection Committee to review progress on occupational safety, environmental monitoring and medical imaging protocols across the nation.
The Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR), under the direction of Hamad Al Kaabi, has convened the 48th meeting of the Radiation Protection Committee to advance the UAE’s comprehensive radiation protection infrastructure. The gathering brought together representatives from federal and local government entities to evaluate progress across occupational and medical exposure management, environmental monitoring, laboratory capabilities and drinking water safety protocols.
A cornerstone initiative presented during the meeting is the National Dose Registry (NDR), a centralised database designed to record occupational exposure to ionising radiation during both routine operations and emergency situations. The registry consolidates dose records through national unique identifiers, enabling systematic oversight of individual exposure levels across the UAE. Currently, the NDR encompasses approximately 27,000 occupationally exposed workers, providing essential support for identifying abnormal exposures and analysing national exposure trends.
The Committee’s Task Force on Monitoring of Drinking Water has established a strategic 24-month programme to enhance the national framework for radiological monitoring of drinking water supplies. This initiative is complemented by progress on an online radiological monitoring platform, strengthening the UAE’s capacity for coordinated assessment and response.
The National Environmental Radiological Measurements Workgroup has advanced the UAE National Radon Indoor Concentration Survey whilst simultaneously strengthening laboratory capabilities for radioactive analysis across government entities. These complementary efforts reinforce the nation’s environmental radiation protection capabilities and readiness for integrated radiological monitoring and assessment at national scale.
The Medical Applications Workgroup, chaired by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, has completed a significant milestone in the UAE National Diagnostic Reference Levels project, designated as a Government Transformational Project. Comprehensive national data collection has been finalised across all modalities, with contributions received from every emirate. The project will establish updated diagnostic reference levels for medical imaging, optimising patient radiation protection whilst maintaining diagnostic efficacy across healthcare facilities nationwide.
Source: WAM