UAE leaders reaffirm commitment to energy security as Barakah Nuclear Power Plant Unit 4 begins operations

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, also arrived at X Airport to offer congratulations.

“Today we celebrate the full commercial operation of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant, which now provides 25 percent of the UAE’s electricity needs. As the largest source of clean energy in the region, Barakah has contributed significantly to the global clean energy landscape, with the UAE achieving the highest clean energy per capita rate in the past five years, with 75 percent of this coming from Barakah,” Sheikh Mohammed said proudly.

“The plant will also reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 22 million tonnes per year, the equivalent of taking 4.8 million cars off the road. The Barakah Nuclear Power Plant is a visionary project led by President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. It is an Emirati achievement, an Arab pride and a significant global contribution to protecting the planet,” he added.

Meanwhile, Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC), which announced the historic milestone of full delivery of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant, said it is fulfilling ENEC’s promise to provide clean, abundant electricity to the UAE. Barakah is one of the most successful new nuclear power plant projects in the last 30 years, representing a remarkable feat of engineering and teamwork and a significant achievement for the country. The plant was delivered in line with the UAE’s 2008 political commitments to develop nuclear energy, meeting the highest standards of safety, security and transparency.

Barakah currently generates 40 TWh of electricity per year, almost equivalent to New Zealand’s annual electricity consumption, and supplies up to 25 percent of the UAE’s electricity. This clean, zero-emission energy is enough to power 16 million electric vehicles per year. It is the largest decarbonization effort in the UAE and the region, and puts the country on track to meet its 2030 climate commitments.

The 22.4 million tonnes of annual carbon dioxide emissions avoided by Barakah is equivalent to taking 4.6 million cars off the road every year and contributes to meeting 24% of the country’s 2030 decarbonisation commitments (Nationally Determined Contributions, known as NDCs).

Barakah also brings broad economic benefits. Despite growing demand, natural gas consumption for electricity generation is at a 13-year low in Abu Dhabi due to the significant contribution Barakah now makes to Abu Dhabi’s energy mix. Barakah’s four APR-1400 units are also playing a key role in helping UAE companies decarbonise. 85 per cent of EWEC’s managed clean energy certificates are powered by Barakah, which are used by companies such as ADNOC, EGA and Emirates Steel Arkan to produce greener products that can be sold at a premium, providing a unique competitive advantage to Abu Dhabi-based companies.

The construction of Barakah has stimulated the creation of a new advanced industry in the UAE, supporting domestic studies in nuclear science and providing educational and training opportunities for talented Emirati youth. To date, more than 2,000 highly skilled Emiratis have participated in the development of the plant.

This creation of know-how and intellect will be crucial for the future, because according to the IMF study, nuclear power plants have a unique reach, distributing wealth more widely across sectors than other energy sources. During the construction phase alone, delivery of the four units at Barakah generated $6.7 billion (Dh22.5 billion) in local orders, making the UAE’s peaceful nuclear power program a key driver of value in the country.

Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the ENEC Board, said: “In 2008, the UAE’s visionary leadership took a data-driven and long-term approach by issuing a comprehensive UAE Civil Nuclear Power Development Policy aimed at transforming the country’s energy system.

“With the commencement of commercial operations of Barakah Unit 4, this vision has been realised as one in four electrons in the UAE grid comes from Barakah, providing up to 25 per cent of the UAE’s electricity requirements and positioning the country as a leader in the development of civilian nuclear power in the world. This source of clean electricity will act as a magnet, attracting additional investment to the UAE from sustainable but energy-intensive industries around the world.”

Mohamed Al Hammadi, Managing Director and CEO of ENEC, said: “We are extremely proud of this monumental achievement for the UAE and grateful for the continued support of the UAE leadership as we usher in a new era of clean energy for the country. The UAE has now added more clean electricity per capita in the last five years than any other country, with 75 per cent of this energy coming from Barakah4.

“This clearly demonstrates that integrating nuclear power into the UAE’s energy mix alongside growing renewables was the right decision, enhancing energy security and establishing the UAE as a regional leader in this emerging sector. Barakah is making a positive impact on the lives of every person in the UAE through the clean electricity we generate around the clock.

“Barakah Nuclear Power Plant offers a new model to the world and proves that nuclear energy is bankable and can be delivered efficiently. Our units will be operational within eight years from first concrete pour to fuel loading and in the case of Unit 4, we have achieved a 40 percent improvement in the timeline from operational readiness to the start of commercial operations compared to Unit 1.”

“I congratulate all our colleagues who have worked tirelessly to develop significant institutional knowledge. With this expertise, we are now well positioned to move into the next era of growth and fulfill the broader mission of the UAE Peaceful Nuclear Energy Program. ENEC stands ready to partner, develop, invest in and champion more new nuclear projects in the UAE and abroad.”

Nasser Al Nasseri, CEO of Barakah One Company, the ENEC joint venture that oversees the financial and commercial interests of Barakah Power Plant, said: “Barakah Power Plant now reliably and efficiently meets a quarter of the UAE’s electricity needs, ensuring a stable energy supply for the next 60 years.

“The certainty of power output and inherent low price volatility provided by Barakah offers a solid foundation on which to build and grow, both for the UAE energy sector and consumers, underlining one of the key advantages of modern nuclear power plants. Combined with one of the highest rates of return on energy investment of any form of energy, Barakah will deliver benefits to the nation for generations.”

Eng Ali Al Hammadi, CEO of Nawah Energy Company, the ENEC subsidiary entrusted with the safe operation and maintenance of Barakah Power Plant, said: “This is a historic milestone for us as Unit 4 joins our other units in commercial operations, generating clean and reliable electricity for the country. We are committed to ensuring that safety and compliance with the UAE’s strict regulations and high standards remain our top priority, and Nawah will fully focus on safe and reliable operations and maintenance in pursuit of operational excellence.

“Barakah and our teams have passed over 496 inspections by the UAE’s independent regulator, the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR), over 84 World Association for Nuclear Operators (WANO) reviews and 15 International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) missions, demonstrating our commitment to the highest standards. This reflects our relentless pursuit of operational excellence in line with local regulations and global safety standards. Barakah is now a successful global case study in the nuclear power industry and I commend all those who have contributed to this journey.”

The commercial operation of the four Barakah units comes against a backdrop of growing global recognition of the critical role of nuclear power in decarbonizing energy systems and achieving Net Zero. The International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts that global electricity demand will grow at an accelerated rate over the next three years, rising by an average of 3.4 percent per year to 2026.

At COP28, 25 countries, including the UAE, made a commitment to work towards tripling global nuclear capacity by 2050. As electricity demand grows, driven in part by AI, electric vehicles and semiconductors, the stable and reliable clean electricity provided by nuclear power is increasingly being recognised for its role in decarbonising the energy sector. The full delivery of Barakah firmly places ENEC and the UAE at the forefront of their contribution to the 25-nation commitment to tripling nuclear capacity by 2050.

As the first multi-site nuclear power plant in the region, Barakah is a model of what can be achieved when evidence-based and forward-looking energy policy, investment and leadership support are combined with a clear commitment to cooperation and learning from the international community. With over 100 MoUs signed with 14 countries, unique expertise and know-how gained in the development of the UAE’s domestic civil nuclear program, ENEC is poised to promote and accelerate the deployment of nuclear energy in the UAE and beyond.