UAE cuts ribbon on first ever nuclear power plant, Barakah

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In a recent statement, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) showed support for the program:

“This is an important milestone towards commercial operations and generating clean energy. IAEA has been supporting [United Arab Emirates] from the beginning of its nuclear power programme.”

Barakah’s opening has not been free from criticism, however. Qatar, a rival Gulf nation, has described the plant as a “flagrant threat to regional peace and environment.” There also remains the question of Iran, a direct neighbor to the UAE lying across the Gulf, which has been sanctioned by the United States for developing its own nuclear program.

For the UAE, the criticism is a secondary concern. Indeed, there is much to celebrate. Abu Dhabi head Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan offered his congratulations in a tweet “marking this milestone in the roadmap for sustainable development.”

It will be interesting to see whether the UAE’s shift to nuclear energy will take in other Arab countries, including Qatar. Saudi Arabia has already planned to build their own nuclear reactors by 2040.