IAEA six-member mission finds UAE response to Barakah power loss effective
The May 17 drone strike cut off-site power to Unit 3; the mission ran October 12–20 at the UAE government's request.
Key facts
- Four APR1400 reactors at Barakah produce 40 TWh a year, about 25% of UAE electricity
- Plant operated by ENEC Operations, a joint venture subsidiary of ENEC and KEPCO
- Mission team visited affected areas, reviewed operating and emergency procedures, met FANR and BNPP staff
- Mission recommends strengthening emergency preparedness, critical infrastructure resilience and stakeholder coordination
- Mission followed a June 2026 agreement between Grossi and the Emirati government; follow-ups will be considered
An International Atomic Energy Agency mission concluded on October 20 that authorities in the United Arab Emirates and the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant had responded appropriately to the loss of off-site power at Unit 3 caused by a drone strike on May 17, 2026. The mission found effective action was taken to maintain safety during the event, including prompt national and international notification, implementation of established emergency response procedures, and public communication.
The mission ran from October 12 to 20, 2026, at the request of the UAE Government, following an agreement between IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi and the Emirati government during his visit to Barakah in June 2026. Its six members visited the affected areas of the plant and key emergency response facilities, reviewed operating and emergency procedures, and met senior management and technical staff of Barakah and the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation, the UAE's independent nuclear regulator. The mission focused on plant response actions, national arrangements for emergency preparedness and response, lessons learned from the event, and the reactor operator's arrangements to ensure safety.
Off-site power restored within a short period
The team identified good practices, including the UAE authorities' adoption of the IAEA's Seven Indispensable Pillars for Nuclear Safety and Security, the restoration of off-site power within a short period after the event, regulatory oversight of the event, strengthened safety procedures, training of operating staff, and the resilience of critical infrastructure. It recommended strengthening emergency preparedness and response arrangements, strengthening the reliability and resilience of critical infrastructure, and reinforcing coordination among relevant stakeholders to integrate nuclear safety and security measures.
Amgad Shokr, director of the IAEA Incident and Emergency Centre and leader of the mission team, said FANR and ENEC are encouraged to continue implementing the organizational and technical measures identified through the assessment of lessons learned, "with the aim of further enhancing safety and strengthening emergency preparedness and response arrangements in line with IAEA Safety Standards."
Four APR1400 reactors produce 40 TWh annually
Barakah is operated by ENEC Operations, a joint venture subsidiary of the Emirates Nuclear Energy Company and Korea Electric Power Corporation. The plant is in the Al Dhafra region of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi on the Arabian Gulf, approximately 53 km west-southwest of Al Dhannah City. Its four APR1400 reactors produce 40 TWh annually, equivalent to around 25% of the UAE's electricity needs. The IAEA said follow-up missions will be considered in the future.
