The UAE has fully met all obligations under nuclear non-proliferation agreements with the International Atomic Energy Agency, reinforcing its standing as a responsible nuclear energy nation and a model for newcomer countries, the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation said on Wednesday.
FANR Director-General Christer Viktorsson told a media briefing that the UAE continues to comply with the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement and the Additional Protocol, noting that the IAEA confirmed the country achieved “broader conclusion” status in 2025 for the third consecutive year, the agency’s highest level of assurance.
Viktorsson said FANR conducted 48 safeguards-related inspections and 98 import and export control inspections in 2025 to ensure licensees’ compliance with regulatory requirements.
He highlighted the authority’s robust oversight of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant, where 36 inspections covering almost 1,300 person-days were carried out across nuclear safety, security, radiation protection, and non-proliferation.
Barakah, now fully operational with four units, supplies about 25 percent of the UAE’s electricity. Viktorsson said the plant’s performance has positioned the UAE as a global reference point for countries developing nuclear programmes.
In 2025, FANR certified more than 40 reactor and senior reactor operators, bringing the total number of certified personnel at Barakah to 300. The authority is also reviewing the Periodic Safety Review for Unit 1 as it enters its fifth year of operation.
Beyond non-proliferation, FANR conducted 59 nuclear security inspections and 322 inspections of radioactive source transport vehicles, while issuing about 1,770 facility licences and more than 1,600 import and export permits for radiation sources.
Viktorsson said FANR’s newly adopted 2027–2029 strategy will further strengthen nuclear governance, safety, security, and emergency preparedness in line with national priorities.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
