National Nuclear Energy Stakeholders Join to Identify Areas for Further Collaboration and Cooperation with the IAEA to Bolster the UAE’s Position as Regional Leader in Nuclear Energy Sector

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 28 August, 2017:  Khalifa University of Science and Technology, a research university dedicated to producing world leaders and critical thinkers in applied science and engineering, hosted the first National Outreach Seminar on Technical Cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in late August.

The seminar was jointly organized at Khalifa University of Science and Technology Main Campus on 20-22 August 2017, with the UAE Permanent Mission to the IAEA, the IAEA Technical Cooperation Department, and the UAE Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR). The UAE Permanent Mission to the IAEA is the main liaison office for the UAE’s collaboration with the international nuclear organization, and is the facilitator of technical cooperation projects on national, regional and international levels.  

A key goal of the event was to enhance networking and communication among a wide range of the national nuclear energy stakeholders with the IAEA’s Technical Cooperation Program (TCP) – whose aim is to assist IAEA Member States in the peaceful application of nuclear science and technology. Through interactive sessions and roundtable discussions, participants identified common needs, collaboration opportunities and critical areas for support from the TCP that would strengthen the UAE's position as an international leader in the nuclear energy sector. An action plan was developed to set clear goals and recommendations for the upcoming years to ensure stakeholder alignment, TCP support and cooperation. 

Over 13 sessions across three days, the seminar brought together crucial national nuclear power stakeholders, including government and semi-government officials from the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, Nawah Energy Company and FANR. Other national stakeholders in attendance included the Dubai Healthy Authority, Dubai Police, International Center for Biosaline Agriculture, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, the American University of Sharjah, Abu Dhabi Polytechnic, the Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences, and others. 

HE Ambassador Hamad Alkaabi, UAE Permanent Representative to the IAEA, said: 'The success of the UAE technical cooperation program with the IAEA is a product of forward-looking and strong cooperation with and among the national stakeholders. The extensive technical cooperation with the IAEA has contributed significantly in advancing UAE development goals as outlined in the UAE Vision 2030. We are thankful for the valuable technical support provided by the IAEA to more than 60 national stakeholders, which have helped advance the safe uses of nuclear energy and nuclear applications in the country, contributing to the advancement of important sectors including energy, agriculture, human health, and environmental protection.” 

The three-day event opened with a welcome address from Khalifa University of Science and Technology’s Interim President Dr. Tod Laursen. 

Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, Interim Executive Vice President, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, said: “Hosting the first National Outreach Seminar on Technical Cooperation with the IAEA at the Khalifa University of Science and Technology is a testament to our commitment and support of the UAE’s peaceful nuclear development goals. We are pleased to have organized such a successful and critical event, which enabled nuclear energy stakeholders from across the country to come together to discover areas where further progress and collaboration can be made in order to achieve the UAE’s goal of developing an effective and sustainable nuclear energy program.” 

Jane Gerardo Abaya, Section Head Division for Asia & the Pacific Ocean, IAEA Department of Technical Cooperation, said: 'Collaborative efforts in human resources development through the IAEA Technical Cooperation Program (TCP) enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of capacity building, which benefits future generations. Greater understanding of the applications of nuclear technology in daily life enriches the participation in the program. We congratulate the UAE for their first national outreach seminar on the UAE’s technical cooperation with the IAEA, which raises awareness on various opportunities of collaboration with the IAEA, as well as the successful significant achievements of the UAE supported by the TCP. '

Khalifa University of Science and Technology is a key academic partner to the UAE’s nuclear energy development. Through its undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs and robust research labs, the University conducts research and development of advanced and peaceful nuclear energy technologies and cultivates the highly-skilled nuclear engineering professionals needed to lead and operate the country’s nuclear energy power plants. 

The UAE has been a Member State of the IAEA since 1976. The office of the Permanent Mission of the UAE to the IAEA in Vienna, Austria was established in July 2008, soon after the UAE decided to embark on nuclear power. Since then, the UAE has been very active in the TCP, which has been supporting essential development priorities such as food and agriculture, health and nutrition, water and the environment, sustainable energy development, and nuclear and radiation safety. In recent years, the UAE has achieved some of the highest implementation rates of TCP among all countries in Asia and the Pacific.