About Nawah Energy
Nawah Energy Company is the operator of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in the Al Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi, the first nuclear power plant in the Arab world. The company is responsible for operating and maintaining the plant's four reactors, which generate a significant share of the UAE's electricity without carbon emissions during operation.
Nawah is a subsidiary of the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC), with the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) holding a minority stake. KEPCO led the consortium that built Barakah, and its involvement in Nawah brings operational experience from South Korea's nuclear programme.
Barakah's four units came online progressively, with all four in commercial operation by 2024. At full capacity, the plant can supply up to around a quarter of the UAE's electricity needs, making it one of the largest single sources of clean power in the region.
Operating a nuclear plant requires highly specialised skills, strict safety procedures and continuous oversight. Nawah works under the regulation of the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR), the UAE's independent nuclear regulator, and follows international standards set by bodies such as the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Workforce development has been a major part of Nawah's work. The UAE has trained a large number of Emirati engineers, operators and technicians to run the plant, building national expertise in a field that did not exist in the country before the programme began.
Nuclear energy plays a key role in the UAE's energy strategy, alongside solar and other clean sources, as the country pursues its goal of net zero emissions by 2050. Barakah provides steady baseload power that complements variable renewable energy.
The programme is often cited internationally as an example of a newcomer country developing nuclear power safely and on a large scale.
Nawah is not a startup, but its role in delivering low-carbon electricity makes it one of the most important sustainability companies profiled on Startups UAE.
Nawah is a subsidiary of the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC), with the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) holding a minority stake. KEPCO led the consortium that built Barakah, and its involvement in Nawah brings operational experience from South Korea's nuclear programme.
Barakah's four units came online progressively, with all four in commercial operation by 2024. At full capacity, the plant can supply up to around a quarter of the UAE's electricity needs, making it one of the largest single sources of clean power in the region.
Operating a nuclear plant requires highly specialised skills, strict safety procedures and continuous oversight. Nawah works under the regulation of the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR), the UAE's independent nuclear regulator, and follows international standards set by bodies such as the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Workforce development has been a major part of Nawah's work. The UAE has trained a large number of Emirati engineers, operators and technicians to run the plant, building national expertise in a field that did not exist in the country before the programme began.
Nuclear energy plays a key role in the UAE's energy strategy, alongside solar and other clean sources, as the country pursues its goal of net zero emissions by 2050. Barakah provides steady baseload power that complements variable renewable energy.
The programme is often cited internationally as an example of a newcomer country developing nuclear power safely and on a large scale.
Nawah is not a startup, but its role in delivering low-carbon electricity makes it one of the most important sustainability companies profiled on Startups UAE.