Abu dhabi: The Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC) has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the Department of Government Enablement - Abu Dhabi (DGE), represented by Mawaheb Talent Hub, to establish a comprehensive framework for the training and employment of UAE nationals. The partnership is designed to empower Emirati talent by providing them with the specialised skills required to be part of the UAE's growing civil nuclear energy sector. According to Emirates News Agency, Mohamed Al Hammadi, Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer of ENEC, and Mariam Al Musharrakh, Director-General of GovTalent at DGE, witnessed the signing of the agreement by Dr. Abdulla AlShimmari, Executive Director of National Workforce Enablement Sector at DGE, and Ahmed Alshamsi, Chief Human Capital Officer at ENEC. Under the five-year agreement, the two parties will cooperate to qualify at least 100 UAE nationals holding high school diplomas, vocational diplomas, or postgraduate degrees. DGE's Mawaheb Talent Hub will provide ENEC with a curated list of candidates and grant access to its state-of-the-art facilities to conduct awareness workshops, technical assessments, and interviews. ENEC will lead the development and funding of the training programmes and provide financial support for trainees. Upon successful completion of the programme and fulfilling hiring criteria, the selected trainees will be integrated into the workforce at ENEC and its subsidiaries, joining the teams responsible for the continued operational excellence of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant. Al Hammadi emphasized ENEC's dedication to cultivating a world-class team of Emirati professionals, highlighting the significance of this agreement in expanding their talent pipeline. He stated that equipping the next generation of UAE nationals with the expertise to lead and secure the nation's carbon-free future is crucial for driving long-term sustainable growth and supporting the UAE's transition to a knowledge-based economy. Ibrahim Nassir, Unde rsecretary of DGE, expressed that investing in people is paramount for any nation. He noted that the agreement reflects a shared commitment to placing Emirati talent at the heart of one of the UAE's most strategically vital sectors. Through Mawaheb, the focus is on building a pipeline of nationally qualified experts who can lead the UAE's clean energy future for generations to come. The partnership builds on ENEC's proven track record of human capability development. To date, more than 2,000 Emirati talents have been involved in the development and operation of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant. ENEC continues to empower future experts through dedicated talent pipeline programmes. Currently, the four units of the Barakah Plant produce 40TWh of clean baseload electricity annually, meeting 25 percent of the UAE's electricity demand and preventing millions of tonnes of carbon emissions annually. Through this collaboration, ENEC and DGE's Mawaheb are developing local talent to cement the UAE's position as a glob al pioneer in clean energy and a case study for excellence in capacity building for civil nuclear operations.