UAE announces first Women in Nuclear Middle East chapter

The Chapter was announced at COP28 by Mohamed Al Hammadi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC), Dominique Mouillot, President of WiN Global, and Dr. Sama Bilbao y León, Director-General of World Nuclear Association, as well as leaders from the wider nuclear energy industry. Egypt was the first country in the region to join the WiN Middle East Chapter, which is open for other regional countries to be a part of.

WiN is a non-profit organisation for women working professionally in the nuclear energy and technology fields and those interested in the nuclear sector. The launched Middle East Chapter is part of WiN Global, whose members are focused on a common goal of providing information and raising awareness about the benefits of nuclear energy, whilst promoting gender balance. WiN Global has approximately 4,800 members in more than 107 countries.

Women represent around 20 percent of the UAE Peaceful Nuclear Energy Program, playing a key role across a range of areas including engineering, reactor operations, nuclear safety and other technical specialties. Since its inception, ENEC has continued to support the advancement of Emirati women, who today are at the forefront of the UAE’s path to Net Zero by 2050. This has been a clear commitment from the UAE leadership who have supported gender equality and empowered the role of women across the clean energy sector and wider industries. Today at the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, women perform critical jobs including Senior Reactor Operators, Fuel Load specialists and more.

Mohamed Al Hammadi said, “Emirati women, working alongside international experts, are at the heart of our achievements at the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, helping to sustainably power the UAE. We are proud of our talented Emiratis for helping develop the nuclear energy sector and being a source of inspiration for our youth. As a result of the UAE Peaceful Nuclear Energy Program, young women across the UAE are seeing the possibilities for highly challenging and rewarding careers in one of the most important industries for clean electricity generation and tackling climate change. The establishment of the Women in Nuclear Middle East Chapter will further increase the opportunities for women to drive innovation and RD as we continue to progress towards achieving Net Zero by 2050.”

Dominique Mouillot, President of WiN Global, added,” This new regional chapter is not just an expansion; it is a testament to our commitment to inclusivity and the recognition of the vibrant contributions women in the Middle East can make to the nuclear sector and to the WiN Global community. WiN Middle East will be a catalyst for transformative action, empowering women to take leadership roles, contribute groundbreaking insights, and shape the trajectory of nuclear science and technology in this dynamic region, from which we will enrich our collective global narrative”.

Women in Nuclear drives a culture of excellence in nuclear energy and technology, in which women are empowered to succeed. Creating professional development and networking opportunities to facilitate know-how, greater collaboration with international peers, professional growth and career advancement, WiN enhances awareness of the value of nuclear energy and advanced technology.

At COP28, the role of women and gender balance in tackling climate change is a key topic, with the UAE Peaceful Nuclear Energy Program providing a clear case study for female empowerment, diversity and inclusion. In the ‘Year of Sustainability’ for the UAE, talented Emirati women continue to be clean electricity champions, supporting powering the nation’s sustainable development. The Barakah Plant will continue to provide highly specialized jobs over its operating lifespan of at least 60 years, enabling women to develop long-term careers in the industry.

Playing a significant role in the UAE’s clean energy transition, the Barakah Plant is now one unit away from full-fleet operations and realizing ENEC’s commitment to generating up to 25% of the UAE’s electricity demand. The first multi-unit operating Plant in the Arab World, the Barakah Plant already generates more than 80 percent of Abu Dhabi Emirate’s clean electricity, whilst preventing millions of tons of carbon emissions. Barakah is spearheading the decarbonization of heavy industries and hard-to-abate sectors.