The UAE is taking part in the annual week-long 68th Regular Session of the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) at the organisation’s headquarters in Vienna, Austria from 16th to 20th September 2024.

It is being held under the theme “Global Cooperation in the Nuclear Field”.

Ambassador Hamad Al Kaabi, the UAE Permanent Representative to the IAEA, is leading the UAE delegation that includes national stakeholders in the nuclear sector such as the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR), and Emirates Nuclear Energy Cooperation (ENEC).

Al Kaabi will deliver the UAE Statement to the Plenary Session of the General Conference in which he will cast light on the robust relationship between the UAE and the IAEA. The five-decade-old partnership helped achieve the UAE’s energy needs in terms of building and operating a peaceful nuclear programme that adheres to the highest standards in nuclear safety, security, and non-proliferation.

The UAE delegation will hold several bilateral meetings with international stakeholders to discuss cooperation opportunities and exchange views on topics related to nuclear policy, regulatory and industry.

On the margins of the GC, FANR plans to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority to cooperate and exchange information on nuclear regulatory matters as well as provide training opportunities for its personnel.

In addition, the UAE will join the Senior Safety and Security Regulators’ Meeting, where it will share its journey to develop a robust regulatory infrastructure for its peaceful nuclear energy programme from legislation to inspection and licensing regimes to ensure a safe, secure and peaceful nuclear programme.

The UAE will take part in a side event entitled: “The International Commission on Radiological Protection: Time for Action!”, in which FANR will present its efforts to strengthen the radiation protection infrastructure in the UAE. FANR continuously monitors the radioactivity levels in the UAE environment through its environmental laboratory and through its radioactivity monitoring stations positioned in various locations across the UAE.

The UAE delegation will take part in the Regulatory Cooperation Forum, where FANR and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission will present the newly launched Whitepaper on ‘Auditing Inspection Process—Nuclear Regulator’, which sheds light on the role and significance of Internal Audit functions within nuclear regulatory bodies, the advantages of international collaboration in Internal Audit.

Since joining the IAEA in 1976, the UAE has been cooperating with the IAEA based on its national developmental priorities. The General Conference is the highest policy-making body of the IAEA and is composed of representatives of its Member States and discusses the IAEA’s programme and budget and other matters related to nuclear energy.