The UAE nuclear paradigm: navigating expansion, advanced technologies and geopolitics - Stephenson Harwood

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has successfully transitioned from a regional nuclear pioneer to a global reference model for civil nuclear deployment. Following the full commercial operationalisation of the 5.6 GW Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) is actively pursuing its next strategic evolution. This “Next Nuclear Paradigm” has the potential to expand beyond large-scale baseload generation to encompass small modular reactors (SMRs), advanced modular reactors (AMRs), maritime decarbonisation and strategic positioning within the global nuclear fuel cycle. THE BARAKAH BASELINE AND THE BLUEPRINT FOR LARGE-SCALE EXPANSIONThe full operationalisation, in September 2024, of the four South Korean-built APR-1400 units at the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant marks a significant shift in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) energy architecture. Producing 40 TWh of zero-carbon electricity annually, Barakah single-handedly satisfies 25% of the UAE’s domestic power demand.