From 6 to 11 October 2012, Dr. Ali Boussaha, Director for the IAEA’s Technical Cooperation Division for Asia and the Pacific (TCAP) visited the UAE to meet with key national stakeholders of the TC programme.
During the one-week visit, Dr. Boussaha met with officials of the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR), the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC), Dubai Health Authority (DHA), heads of educational institutions such as Khalifa University of Science, Technology and Research (KU), University of Sharjah (UoS), and American University of Sharjah (AUS) to discuss the implementation of ongoing TC projects with the Agency as well as the planning of future projects, to facilitate technical cooperation between UAE and the IAEA.
Discussions involved key areas such as the UAE nuclear power programme, radiation safety, establishment of the SSDL (Secondary Standards Dosimetry Laboratory) as well as environmental health, radiation safety and other areas of cooperation in nuclear medicine.
Discussions also focused on capacity building and the development of human resources in the different areas of cooperation in nuclear power as well as non-power applications.
The interaction between the UAE and the IAEA Department of Technical Cooperation goes through the division for Asia and the Pacific (TCAP). Through its active participation in several national, regional and interregional TC projects, the UAE benefits from the transfer of nuclear technology, knowledge and expertise, but also shares its experience with other Member States.
The UAE currently has 5 ongoing TC projects with the Agency and is planning three future ones for the upcoming TC cycle 2014-2015.
Throughout the implementation of national TC projects, all stakeholders in the UAE nuclear power programme cooperate closely and engage extensively in various activities aimed not only at acquiring but also sharing nuclear knowledge. Through activities in collaboration with the IAEA such as inter alia, international meetings, workshops, trainings, fellowships, and scientific visits, and coordinated research projects, the UAE sustainably develops its national capacity.
During his visit, Dr. Boussaha had a series of meetings in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah emirates with stakeholders of the UAE technical cooperation programme, and discussed the needs of the UAE and how to fill existing gaps through IAEA services and transfer of knowledge.
During the first day of his visit to FANR’s headquarters in Abu Dhabi, Dr. Boussaha was welcomed by Ambassador Hamad Alkaabi, UAE Permanent Representative to the IAEA, which was followed by meetings with key stakeholders of the UAE nuclear power programme FANR and ENEC. They discussed past and current TC projects in key areas of technical cooperation such as protection of the environment, radioactive waste management, and radiation protection.
The following days, Dr. Boussaha met top officials of educational institutions: Khalifa University of Science, Technology and Research (KU), University of Sharjah (UoS), as well as the American University of Sharjah (AUS) to discuss nuclear education and training projects to enhance UAE’s efforts to the advancement of nuclear industry. The meetings highlighted the success of the Gulf Nuclear Energy Infrastructure Institute (GNEII), a joint program with the UAE key stakeholders FANR, ENEC, Critical Infrastructure and Coastal Protection Authority (CICPA) in collaboration with US stakeholders.
At his visit to Dubai Health Authority (DHA), Dr. Boussaha and the hospital officials emphasized patient radiation safety issues and how IAEA can assist UAE in enhancing radiation safety nationally as well as responding to their needs in healthcare involving nuclear technology.
Dr. Boussaha complimented the commitment shown by all stakeholders to cooperation with the Agency for the advancement of the UAE specifically with regard to peaceful nuclear power but also relate to non-nuclear applications.
