Will UAE’S First Nuclear Plant Spark a Middle East Atomic Energy Race?

A number of Middle Eastern countries have been working for years to diversify their energy sources, including pursuing the nuclear option. Iran, the first country in the region to develop nuclear power, is being followed by others. Turkiye has already begun construction on its first plant, with Saudi Arabia close to starting its own civilian program. But it was the UAE that took the title of the region’s newest nuclear energy power.

The fourth reactor of Abu Dhabi's Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant has entered commercial operation, marking the completion of the Arab world's first such power station. The South Korean-built plant is set to produce a quarter of the Gulf nation’s electricity needs. The UAE, long dependent on oil exports to fund its booming economy, is looking to develop enough renewable energy to cover half its needs by 2050. But will the plant's opening spark a nuclear energy race throughout the region?

Guest:
Jonathan Fenton-Harvey
Political Analyst