Abu dhabi: The United Arab Emirates, through the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR), has been elected to chair the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Steering Committee on Regulatory Capacity Building for the 2025-2027 term.
According to Emirates News Agency, the election occurred during the 16th meeting of the Steering Committee, where representatives from 22 IAEA member states reviewed and discussed initiatives to enhance and maintain nuclear sector staff capacity globally. Shaima Al Mansoori, Director of Education and Training at FANR, highlighted the significance of this election, noting it as a testament to the UAE Nuclear Programme’s international standing and its exemplary development model in the nuclear sector.
Since its inception in 2009, the Steering Committee has played a crucial role in advising the IAEA on supporting member states’ training programs and has been instrumental in the revision and updating of the Systematic Assessment of Competence Needs. The committee also
focuses on publishing research and promoting IAEA safety standards that are critical to developing, ensuring, and managing regulatory competence.
FANR has been pivotal in the UAE since September 2009, emphasizing the professional development of Emiratis to effectively oversee the nuclear industry while ensuring the sector’s sustainability and adhering to safety, security, and environmental protections. Initiatives have included the implementation of a competency-based capacity-building framework, development programs for fresh graduate engineers and legal professionals, as well as offering scholarships and secondments. Currently, Emiratis constitute over 77 percent of FANR’s workforce, with women nearly making up half of the leadership positions.