Next Phase of UAE Civil Nuclear Energy Development

29.01.24

Over the past 15 years, the UAE’s mandated civil nuclear developer, Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) has successfully managed the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Peaceful Nuclear Energy Program, transitioning the country from a newcomer nation to a leading expert in the delivery of large-scale civil nuclear energy programs in adherence to the highest standards of safety, quality and security.  

Today, nuclear energy is already the largest single source of clean electricity in the UAE and wider Arab World. As a result of commencing electricity generation at the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in 2021, the UAE has added more clean electricity per capita than any other nation in the past five years, according to Radiant Energy Group research.  It is a true engine of growth for the nation, strategically underpinning the Nation’s energy security and sustainability objectives to drive its net zero economy.

At COP28, the UAE became one of 22 endorsing nations to support a tripling of global nuclear energy capacity by 2050 to deliver Net Zero, underscored by the inclusion of nuclear energy in the COP 28 global stocktake text as a technology to accelerate decarbonization.

With three units commercially operating by 2023, and the fourth and final unit of the existing fleet at the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant to come online in 2024, ENEC is focused on exploring opportunities in the UAE and overseas to maximize the full value of the expertise developed in nuclear mega project program delivery and technology deployment, subject to confirmed demand, and approvals from the relevant UAE authorities. 

As part of this process to seek opportunities, ENEC launched the ADVANCE program in November 2023 to evaluate Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and Advanced Reactor technologies for both domestic and international investment and development. MOUs were signed with international technology providers throughout December 2023, with collaboration activities now underway.

Further information on this process will be provided in due course.