The 5.6GW Barakah nuclear power plant (NPP) in Abu Dhabi is the first NPP in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Arab world.
The facility was jointly developed by the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) and Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO).
Recommended White Papers
Recommended Buyers Guides
Nawah Energy Company, a joint venture (JV) between ENEC and KEPCO, is the operator of the plant.
The plant can generate 40 terawatt-hours (TWh) of power annually, meeting up to a quarter of the UAE’s electricity needs.
The ground-breaking ceremony for the $32bn (Dh117.52bn) project was held in March 2011 and the first unit was commissioned in March 2020.
Every year, the Barakah facility avoids 22.4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, contributing 24% towards the UAE’s 2030 decarbonisation target.
In July 2025, ENEC signed an agreement under which nuclear reactor company Framatome will provide nuclear fuel assemblies for the Barakah nuclear energy plant.
The deal forms part of ENEC’s wider long-term strategy to broaden and diversify its fuel supply sources.
The fuel assemblies will be fabricated at Framatome’s fabrication facility in Richland, US, which is licensed by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
Framatome announced the fabrication of the first lead fuel assemblies in November 2025.
Barakah NPP location
The Barakah NPP is situated in the Al Dhafra region of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
The facility, on the Arabian Gulf, lies around 53km west-south-west of Al Dhannah City.
Nuclear reactors at Barakah power plant
The Barakah NPP is equipped with four identical Advanced Power Reactor 1,400MW (APR1400) nuclear reactors, which were developed by the Korean nuclear industry under the leadership of KEPCO.
The reactor design is based on System 80+, which is certified by the NRC in the US. It is an upgraded version of OPR1000, the Optimum Power Reactor 1000MW, the first standard pressurised water reactor plant in Korea.
The reactor is licensed by the Korean nuclear safety regulator, the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety, and is expected to have a lifespan of 60 years.
The APR1400, a Generation-III+ reactor, consists of advanced features such as direct vessel injection from the safety injection system, a passive flow regulation device in the safety injection tank, an in-containment refuelling water supply system, and systems for severe accident mitigation and management.
The reactor features two steam generators that transfer the heat of 4GW from the reactor coolant system to the secondary system, producing steam to drive the turbine generator, which produces net electrical power of 1.4GW.
The plant’s reactors have been adapted to suit the climatic conditions of the UAE. The reactors have larger pumps, plant cooling and seawater intake systems, improved ventilation and a more refined intake screen design.
The plant is designed to withstand earthquakes of a 7.0 magnitude or higher on the Richter scale.
Development background
The construction of Unit 1 began in July 2012 following the receipt of a construction licence from the Federal Authority of Nuclear Regulation. The construction was completed in May 2018.
The plant completed fuel assembly loading into Unit 1 in March 2020, marking the commissioning of nuclear operations.
The construction of Unit 2 began in May 2013, while that of Unit 3 began in September 2014. The first concrete pouring of Unit 4 took place in September 2015.
The main concrete works and heavy lifting for Units 2, 3 and 4 were completed by November 2018.
Construction of the plant’s Unit 2 was finalised in 2020, with operations commencing in 2021. Unit 3 was completed in 2021 and began operations in September 2022.
Unit 4 was completed in July 2022, underwent operational readiness testing in 2023 and started commercial production in September 2024.
Power purchase agreement details
In October 2016, Barakah One Company and the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Company, now known as the Emirates Water and Electricity Company, announced a power purchase agreement setting the pricing structure for electricity from Barakah Units 1–4.
Fuel supply for UAE’s first NPP
ENEC signed supply contracts with Areva and Techsnabexport for the supply of uranium concentrates, along with providing conversion and enrichment services.
Uranium One and Rio Tinto were contracted for the supply of natural uranium for the plant. ConverDyn provided conversion services while Urenco provided enrichment services.
The enriched uranium was supplied to Kepco Nuclear Fuels for manufacturing the fuel assemblies for use at the Barakah nuclear power plant.
Barakah NPP financing
The project’s financing included a $19.6bn loan, of which $16.2bn was provided by the Abu Dhabi Government and $2.5bn in the form of a loan from the Export-Import Bank of Korea.
Also included was a $250m loan provided by the National Bank of Abu Dhabi, First Gulf Bank, HSBC and Standard Chartered.
Additionally, $4.7bn in equity commitments was received for the establishment of the Barakah One Project JV Company, with equity interests shared between ENEC and KEPCO.
Contractors involved in UAE’s NPP
ENEC awarded a $20.4bn contract to a consortium led by KEPCO for the design, construction and operation of four APR1400 nuclear power units at the Barakah NPP in December 2009.
The consortium includes Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power (KHNP), Hyundai, Samsung, Doosan, Korea Power Engineering Company, and Korea Plant Service and Engineering (KPS).
KHNP provided operating support services and cooperative businesses while KEPCO Engineering and Construction (KEPCO E&C) was awarded the subcontract for providing plant design, architecture and engineering works.
Doosan offered construction and management of the nuclear steam supply system, steam generator and other related components.
Hyundai and Samsung facilitated civil engineering works. Westinghouse provided technical assistance and licence-related works. KNF supplied nuclear fuel, which is maintained by KPS.
Hilal Bil Badi and Partners Contracting, a local company, developed critical water intake structures for the project. The reinforced concrete structures provide cooling water for the turbine condensers and heat exchangers in the turbine generator building.
Bechtel provided design and project management support services to KEPCO E&C, a subsidiary of KEPCO.
Nawah Energy Company signed a long-term operation and maintenance agreement with EDF for the Barakah NPP in November 2018.
KHNP and KEPCO Plant Service & Engineering were contracted for the Barakah nuclear energy plant in June 2019.
KHNP also operates and maintains Units 3 and 4 at South Korea’s Shin Kori NPP.