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WAM reported that the Board of Management of the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation reviewed key regulatory updates along with initiatives designed to boost operational efficiency and national capabilities in the nuclear sector. Hamad Al Kaabi, the authority’s director-general, delivered a briefing on core regulatory operations and organisational progress that included measures to improve customer experience. He outlined the recent launch of the UAE’s first National Environmental Radiation Measurements Portal while detailing advances in building domestic nuclear expertise and the regulator’s expanding international engagements. Al Kaabi further noted FANR’s scheduled participation in forthcoming global nuclear discussions.
The board received a comprehensive update on the operational performance of all four units at the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant, which FANR has identified as the first multi-unit nuclear facility in the Arab region. Regular inspections continue at the site to confirm the operator meets every regulatory requirement for safety and security. These oversight efforts align with the plant’s contribution to the national drive for clean energy under the Net Zero 2050 Strategic Initiative, according to successive FANR assessments. The authority has maintained rigorous monitoring since the facility began commercial operations.
Members examined the latest research and development projects undertaken by FANR to refine the national nuclear and radiation regulatory framework. The work spans nuclear safety, radiation protection, environmental monitoring and emerging technologies, all pursued through collaboration with national and international partners. Progress in expanding Emirati involvement in these activities received particular attention, with an emphasis on translating research findings into evidence-based decision-making that supports long-term regulatory preparedness. Such programmes build directly on FANR’s Regulations Master Plan covering 2025-2029.
The board tracked advancement on a new Regulation on Enforcement Actions, designated FANR-REG-18, which will establish a structured approach to corrective measures, administrative fines and penalties. This framework applies to any party conducting activities governed by Federal Law by Decree No 6 of 2009 Concerning the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy. Once implemented, the regulation is expected to heighten the transparency and effectiveness of FANR’s oversight while reinforcing compliance across the UAE’s nuclear and radiation sector. The authority has aligned its regulatory instruments with International Atomic Energy Agency safety standards since its creation in 2009.
Several new memoranda of understanding and agreements slated for conclusion in 2026 won board approval during the session. The pacts encompass cooperation in nuclear and radiation safety, nuclear security, emergency preparedness and response as well as joint research and development efforts. These partnerships extend FANR’s established pattern of international collaboration that includes membership in the IAEA Commission on Safety Standards. The approvals reinforce the regulator’s role in supporting evidence-based policy decisions that match the UAE’s broader strategic objectives.
