Barakah Nuclear Power Plant
Barakah, Abu Dhabi, UAE [INTERNATIONAL] · Construction 2012-2024 · ~£23.9bn (2024 prices, based on $32bn and ~0.747 GBP/USD)
The judgement call
Account-gated at launchSuccessful completion of all four units, demonstrating the feasibility of nuclear power in the region and strong international collaboration. - The project was delivered with a strong focus on safety culture and adherence to international best practices. - Established a new benchmark for nuclear power plant construction timelines and costs outside of traditional nuclear nations.
Key engineering challenges
Building the first nuclear power plant in the Arab world, establishing a new nuclear regulatory framework. - Ensuring stringent safety and regulatory compliance in a new nuclear nation. - Managing a large international construction project with a diverse workforce and supply chain. - Integrating advanced reactor technology (APR-1400) into the national grid and ensuring reliable operation.
Project facts
- Client / owner
- Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC)
- Lead contractor
- Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO)
- Lead designers
- KEPCO (APR-1400 design)
- Project type
- new build
- Scale
- Four APR-1400 reactors, 5600 MW total capacity (1400 MWe each)
- Disciplines
- nuclear; civil; structural; mechanical; electrical; process; safety
- Standards & frameworks
- FANR (Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation) regulations, IAEA standards
Sources: Wikipedia: Barakah nuclear power plant (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barakah_nuclear_power_plant) - World Nuclear Association: Barakah 1 (https://world-nuclear.org/nuclear-reactor-database/details/barakah-1) - World Nuclear Report: Barakah, UAE: Grid Connection of First Commercial Reactor in the Arab World (https://www.worldnuclearreport.org/Barakah-UAE-Grid-Connection-of-First-Commercial-Reactor-in-the-Arab-World) - ENEC: Timeline (https://www.enec.ae/barakah-plant/timeline/) - Al Jazeera: What is the UAE’s Barakah nuclear plant, nearly hit by a drone? (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/5/18/what-is-the-uaes-barakah-nuclear-plant-nearly-hit-by-a-drone) - Reddit: Hinckley Point C vs Barakah (https://www.reddit.com/r/NuclearPower/comments/1cmx3p6/hinckley_point_c_vs_barakah/)