Power Grid

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) continues to make remarkable progress in the nuclear energy sector, drawing on its experience from developing and operating the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant  the first of its kind in the Middle East. This expertise is now being leveraged through international partnerships, most notably with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC) and Westinghouse Electric Company.

This agreement aims to explore opportunities for collaboration on advanced nuclear energy solutions within the United States, underscoring the UAE’s growing role as a global leader in peaceful nuclear energy development.

The MoU aligns with the United States’ strategic objective to quadruple its nuclear energy output by 2050, in response to rising energy demand driven by growth in technology and artificial intelligence sectors. The collaboration will combine ENEC’s proven capabilities in large-scale nuclear project execution with Westinghouse’s cutting-edge nuclear technologies, including its AP1000® reactor — currently the only fully licensed and ready-to-build nuclear reactor available in the market. Together, both entities aim to accelerate the deployment of advanced nuclear power solutions across the U.S.

Under the agreement, ENEC and Westinghouse will investigate avenues for launching new nuclear projects, restarting stalled initiatives, and developing commercial models for reactor deployment. They will also assess opportunities to cooperate in critical areas such as nuclear fuel supply chains, operational services, and maintenance.

This partnership represents not only a technical collaboration but also a strategic reinforcement of the strong bilateral energy relationship between the UAE and the United States, with a shared commitment to sustainable and secure energy futures.

Both ENEC and Westinghouse leadership have emphasized the critical role nuclear energy plays in meeting clean energy targets and ensuring grid stability. Mohammed Al Hammadi, CEO of ENEC, highlighted the global shift toward nuclear as an essential component of future energy systems.

Meanwhile, Westinghouse CEO Dan Sumner noted the U.S.’s goal of building 10 new reactors by 2030, emphasizing that the AP1000® technology is key to meeting this target. The MoU forms part of ENEC’s wider international strategy to invest in, collaborate on, and deploy nuclear technologies, contributing to global efforts to enhance energy security, sustainability, and economic growth.