The United Arab Emirates moved from having no commercial nuclear generation to operating one of the world’s largest new nuclear plants in little more than a decade. The four-unit Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant now provides around one-quarter of national electricity, giving the UAE a large source of continuous low-carbon power alongside gas-fired plants and an expanding solar sector.
Barakah is more than another power station. It is a deliberate attempt to reduce dependence on natural gas, create a technical industry and support economic growth without matching every increase in power demand with higher fossil-fuel consumption. With all four reactors in commercial operation, the UAE has completed the construction phase of its first nuclear program and entered the longer period of operation, security, maintenance and waste management.
Barakah Has Changed the UAE Power Mix
Barakah is located in the Al Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi, on the Arabian Gulf. Its four APR1400 pressurized water reactors have a combined capacity of about 5.6 GW and generate roughly 40 TWh of electricity each year. Unit 1 entered commercial operation in 2021, followed by Unit 2 in 2022, Unit 3 in 2023 and Unit 4 in September 2024.
The completed plant supplies up to 25 percent of the UAE’s electricity needs. That makes Barakah the country’s largest single source of electricity and one of the most important power assets in the Gulf. Unlike solar generation, nuclear output is available through the night and during periods of weak sunlight. It can therefore provide a stable foundation while solar plants meet a growing share of daytime demand.
This is particularly valuable in an economy where electricity consumption rises sharply during hot periods because of air conditioning and water desalination. Large industrial facilities also require reliable power throughout the year.
Barakah changes how the UAE can use natural gas. Gas remains central to power generation and industry, but nuclear output reduces the volume burned in power stations. Abu Dhabi’s gas consumption for electricity generation fell to a 13-year low despite rising demand after all four units entered service. Gas not used for power can support industry, exports or future domestic needs.
A Korean Reactor Program Built a New Emirati Industry
The UAE selected a South Korean consortium led by Korea Electric Power Corporation to deliver Barakah. The plant uses the APR1400 design, a large pressurized water reactor based on South Korea’s operating experience. Construction of the first unit began in 2012, followed by the other reactors at intervals that allowed the project to share staff, equipment and lessons across the site.
Building four similar reactors at one location created advantages that are difficult to achieve in a single-unit project. Engineering teams applied experience from earlier units to later ones, while the operator developed common maintenance, training and licensing systems for the fleet.
The program also created a domestic nuclear workforce. More than 2,000 Emiratis participated in the plant’s development, while universities and technical institutions expanded programs in engineering, nuclear science and radiation protection. Construction generated billions of dollars in local procurement and introduced UAE suppliers to nuclear quality standards.
The country still relies on international technology, fuel suppliers and specialist services. However, it now has its own regulator, licensed operators, emergency-response organizations, training systems and commercial nuclear management capabilities.
Nuclear Electricity Supports Industrial Decarbonization
Barakah provides power to an economy with large energy-intensive industries, including aluminum, steel, petrochemicals and oil and gas operations. These sectors face growing pressure to reduce the emissions associated with their products.
Clean energy certificates linked to Barakah allow companies such as ADNOC, Emirates Global Aluminium and Emirates Steel Arkan to show that part of their electricity came from a low-carbon source. Barakah accounts for most of the clean energy certificates managed by the Emirates Water and Electricity Company.
This connects nuclear generation to the UAE’s export strategy. Low-carbon electricity can help domestic producers reduce the reported emissions of aluminum, steel and other products sold into markets with stricter climate requirements. The plant is estimated to prevent more than 20 million tonnes of carbon emissions each year, although the exact avoided total depends on which generation would otherwise have supplied the electricity.
The Program Was Built Around Imported Fuel and Non-Proliferation
The UAE’s nuclear policy was designed to gain international confidence before construction began. The government’s 2008 policy committed the country to transparency, IAEA cooperation, strong safety standards and peaceful use. Federal law later confirmed that the UAE would not enrich uranium or reprocess spent nuclear fuel domestically.
Barakah therefore depends on an international fuel supply chain. Uranium conversion, enrichment and fuel fabrication take place abroad before finished fuel assemblies are delivered to the plant. The arrangement limits domestic fuel-cycle activity while giving the UAE access to established suppliers.
The Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation licenses and inspects the plant independently from ENEC and its operating subsidiaries. Each unit received a 60-year operating licence after regulatory review. The IAEA and the World Association of Nuclear Operators have also conducted missions and assessments throughout development and operation.
The 2026 Drone Strike Added a New Security Test
On May 17, 2026, a drone struck an electrical generator outside Barakah’s inner security perimeter and caused a fire. UAE authorities reported no injuries, no release of radioactive material and no abnormal radiation levels. The reactor buildings and core safety systems were not directly damaged, although Unit 3 temporarily relied on emergency diesel generation after losing off-site power.
The incident did not become a nuclear emergency, but it changed the security context around the plant. Barakah’s physical protection, backup power and emergency systems prevented the external event from affecting reactor safety. At the same time, the strike showed that nuclear security in the Gulf must account for drones, regional conflict and attacks on supporting electrical infrastructure.
Reliable off-site power remains important even when a reactor is shut down because cooling, monitoring and control systems still need electricity. The attack therefore reinforced the importance of grid redundancy, emergency power, air defence and international rules protecting civilian nuclear facilities.
Barakah Is Becoming a Platform for Wider Nuclear Investment
With the four reactors complete, ENEC is looking beyond construction at Barakah. Its strategy includes advanced reactors, small modular reactors, nuclear-generated hydrogen and investment in international nuclear projects. A 2025 agreement with Samsung C&T covered possible cooperation on new plants, reactor restarts, SMRs, nuclear services and projects in markets including the United States and Romania.
This does not mean every option will become a UAE project. Large reactors require clear demand and long-term government support, while many SMR technologies are still moving through licensing and demonstration. However, the UAE now has experience that is valuable to countries establishing their first nuclear programs or reviving delayed projects.
Waste Management and Long-Term Operation Define the Next Phase
Used fuel from Barakah is stored in water-filled pools at the plant while it cools. The pools have capacity for approximately 20 years of operation, after which fuel can be transferred to dry storage. The federal government is still developing its long-term spent-fuel policy, and reprocessing is excluded under the country’s nuclear commitments.
The UAE has time to select a permanent or extended interim solution, but the decision cannot be postponed indefinitely. Storage, transport, financing and eventual disposal must remain under regulatory control for much longer than the original construction schedule.
The main measure of the UAE nuclear program will now be sustained operating performance. Barakah has transformed the electricity mix and reduced the need for gas-fired generation. Its long-term value will depend on high availability, safe maintenance, protection from regional threats, secure fuel supplies and a credible waste strategy. If those elements remain in place, nuclear power will remain central to the UAE’s energy system for decades.
