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The Board of Management of the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation approved the authority’s 2027-2029 strategy during its first meeting of the year on February 4 2026. The strategy establishes a roadmap to reinforce the UAE’s nuclear and radiation regulatory framework in line with national priorities according to the Emirates News Agency. It rests on three central pillars covering nuclear governance and regulatory leadership nuclear and radiological safety security and safeguards and preparedness for nuclear and radiological emergencies. The board’s review also encompassed FANR’s operational plans for the current year and additional regulatory matters.
The Emirates News Agency reported that the approved strategy incorporates cross-cutting enablers focused on capacity building and innovation to maintain regulatory readiness. FANR presented its 2026 Zero Government Bureaucracy Programme to the board which targets redesign of 12 core services for licensees and builds on prior cycles that cut transaction turnaround times by more than 50 percent. The board examined progress in these service enhancements as part of broader efforts to reduce administrative burdens while upholding safety standards. A World Nuclear Association assessment found that nuclear power accounted for 22 percent of UAE electricity generation in recent years underscoring the importance of robust oversight.
FANR maintains continuous inspection programmes at the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant to verify operator compliance with all regulatory requirements the board heard during the meeting. The four APR-1400 reactors at Barakah reached a combined net capacity of 5 348 megawatts with full commercial operations achieved across all units by 2024 according to World Nuclear Association data. The board endorsed the authority’s Regulatory Research Programme for 2026 and 2027 which supports framework improvements through targeted studies in areas such as nuclear safety and radiation protection. International Atomic Energy Agency reviews have previously highlighted the maturity of the UAE’s regulatory infrastructure in this domain.
Achievements of the Radiation Protection Committee in 2025 featured prominently in the board’s discussions the Emirates News Agency reported. The committee advanced national diagnostic reference levels guidelines developed referral and qualification frameworks and launched projects to manage orphan radioactive sources. Enhanced coordination on environmental and dosimetry monitoring also formed part of the reported progress. These steps contribute to the national radiation protection framework managed under FANR’s mandate.
The board reviewed plans for expanded national and international partnerships to inform government decisions on nuclear sector development according to the Emirates News Agency. Such collaborations align with the UAE’s long-term vision and include agreements in safety security emergency preparedness and research initiatives. FANR’s regulatory activities since its creation in 2009 have established a comprehensive framework consistent with global best practices a point noted in multiple International Atomic Energy Agency evaluations. The meeting outcomes position the authority to address emerging technologies and evolving risk profiles in the sector.
