In the afternoon we travelled to the UAE ' s nuclear regulator, Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation( FANR). We were given a tour of their Emergency Control Room and there were presentations by FANR and Office for Nuclear Regulation( ONR). The meeting with FANR allowed us to explore differences in oversight, licensing, and emergency preparedness, enriching our understanding of international regulatory practices.

Afterwards, we walked over to the British Ambassador ' s residence where we learnt about the British Embassy ' s role in the UAE in relation to energy and nuclear. Here we had presentations from the UK ambassador, AtkinsRéalis and two businesses based in UAE. They expressed how UK expertise is encouraged within the business as English is the language used in the workplace.

however, the UAE collaborated with all parties at the same table to create their own way and methodologies to suit them and the results speak for themselves. Constructing a power plant on time and on budget is a case study for the world to learn from.

Day 3- Extracurricular day

Whilst we were out in the desert, it was an opportunity to visit the Zayed National Museum, which opened in December 2025, followed by a desert safari experience. The museum showcased the history of the UAE; as you can imagine, the country has changed a lot since the 1950s.

In the evening we visited the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the largest mosque in the UAE.

Day 2 – Barakah Nuclear Plant Guest House

On day 2 we travelled three hours to visit the Barakah site. Due to security reasons, we could not get on to site, but we were in the guest house adjacent to the plant. We had various topical sessions organised by ENEC throughout the day such as decommissioning plans and site operation.

Visiting the Zayed National Museum in Abu Dhabi

The next step for ENEC is to build a Geological Disposal Facility( GDF) for which they have already shortlisted locations. ENEC is in talks with Finland to knowledge share, as Finland has already built the world ' s first deep geological disposal facility for spent nuclear fuel.

Overall, the main take away for me is that collaboration is key. Different suppliers from around the world, such as USA and UK, all have their different methods of handling nuclear fuel which can be challenging,

The group enjoying the desert safari experience!

Overall it was a great experience to see cultural differences within nuclear, yet our goals and outcomes were the same, proving collaboration works when all parties are on the same page.

24 Radiation Protection Today www. srp-rpt. uk