When the UAE breaks ground on its first nuclear power plant, independent regulators will be there every step of the way, with the clout to halt work, approve construction materials, and decide whether it is ever switched on.
The powerful Federal Authority of Nuclear Regulation approved this week by Sheikh Khalifa, President of the UAE, is a key step in the development of a modern regulatory system insulated both from industry and political decisions, experts say.
In a law issued last Sunday, the Government set the framework for "a fully independent" regulator, "which aims to oversee the nuclear energy sector in the state and to promote the highest standards of nuclear safety, nuclear security, and radiological protection".
Because of the potentially catastrophic consequences of a nuclear accident, it has become standard practice to create an independent regulator whose sole purpose is to question and inspect every step taken in the design, construction, and operation of a nuclear power plant.
In many cases in western countries, regulators play a very public role, detailing how often plants are shut for safety reasons, for example, or soliciting public comment on the extension of operating licences.
The new entity will be funded through licensing fees paid by the nuclear operator, and members of the authority's board will be protected from dismissal if they make an unpopular decision.
At the same time, the law seeks to prevent conflicts of interest by prohibiting board members and their families from having any business connection to the nuclear industry.
"Board members are not allowed to be involved directly or indirectly in any regulated activity," said Hamad al Kaabi, the UAE's permanent representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Experts say the creation of such a body in the UAE marks an important moment in the development of institutions, in a country where government's relationship with business has historically been defined by close personal ties.
Dr Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, a political-science professor at UAE University in Al Ain, hopes the new entity will improve transparency.
"The thing this country needs most is transparency, and the more transparent our regulatory agencies are, the better off we are," he says. "I think the public expects more openness, and more transparency about the operation, the goals [of the nuclear programme]."
The tough requirements enshrined in the new law were driven largely by international considerations, as the UAE sought to convince the international community of its peaceful intentions, says Justin Dargin, an expert on Gulf energy politics at the Dubai School of Government.
"Even though it's a domestic and internal body, it firmly stands in the international arena," he says. "This regulatory body will be used as a type of example for the UAE to go out to the world and say 'look how we are constructing a peaceful nuclear sector'."
As part of that commitment, the law put in writing a pledge by the Government to forego the enrichment of uranium and import the fuel instead.
Mr Dargin said the Government wants the international community to see a clear distinction between its approach and that of Iran, which is accused of using its civilian nuclear programme as a cover to develop nuclear weapons.
But the creation of the new regulator could have far-ranging effects on the energy industry and the country's overall business culture, he says.
In the UAE's rapid development from a collection of tiny sheikhdoms to cosmopolitan trade centres, the relationship between government and business was based on the personal trust bestowed by the leaders and their trusted advisers, Mr Dargin says.
Both business and government officials tended to eschew legal and bureaucratic structures in favour of an individual's reputation when they sought guarantees that a deal would be completed.
"It's heavily based on personality, who you know, and what your status is, even though you do also have a bureaucracy," Mr Dargin says of the UAE's business climate. "The population is so small so you can have this intimate way of conducting business."
Although the country will probably retain a degree of intimacy in business, it has by necessity taken part in what Mr Dargin calls "the evolution of transparency that has been sweeping the world".
The precursor for the new nuclear regulator is the Regulatory and Supervision Bureau (RSB), an entity based in Abu Dhabi that was created in 1998 to regulate the power industry.
The RSB was created at the same time that Abu Dhabi was looking to partially privatise its power plants. Like the nuclear regulator, it has been allowed full financial and regulatory independence, and benefited from stability in its legal structure, says Nick Carter, the director general of the bureau.
The RSB will maintain a role in the nuclear programme, regulating the transmission of the thousands of megawatts of power produced by the plants, he says.
"We will be part of the regulatory process, and we are working very closely with the nuclear regulatory body to ensure full compliance beyond the factory gate," Mr Carter says.
But whereas the RSB has often stayed out of the public spotlight, the new nuclear regulator will have the world's full attention and face constant international scrutiny, Mr Dargin says.
"I think they're going to do this right," he says. "Just based on the fact there are going to be people in the US and EU looking at every step the Government takes with the regulatory body."
One of the biggest challenges for the regulator is the tough requirements on conflict of interest, says Dr Abdulla.
The rationale behind the rules is that a member of the regulatory board should not have any monetary incentive to soft-pedal on safety requirements, for example, or benefit financially from the body's approval of certain materials.
But the Government has vowed to crack down on conflicts of interest before, with few results, Dr Abdulla says.
"There are so many laws and regulations that try to stop conflicts of interest, but by the day we see it at all levels of the Government," he says. "I don't know how this new body is going to be immune from this."
The new regulator will also need to groom Emiratis to take over key operation roles, so that day-to-day control of such a sensitive industry is not left to foreigners, Dr Abdulla says.
The growth of a fully independent regulator will take time, experts note. In the West, the modern regulatory system evolved after years of experimentation, Bill Borchardt, the executive director for operations at the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, told a conference in Dubai earlier this year.
"Nations that today have very well-established nuclear programmes did not always have what could be termed an independent regulator," he said. "History has shown very clearly the benefit of having an organisation that is solely focused on safety."
@Email:cstanton@thenational.ae
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
SECRET%20INVASION
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NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Barcelona 3
Messi (27’, 32’, 87’)
Leganes 1
El Zhar (68’)
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Name: Brendalle Belaza
From: Crossing Rubber, Philippines
Arrived in the UAE: 2007
Favourite place in Abu Dhabi: NYUAD campus
Favourite photography style: Street photography
Favourite book: Harry Potter
THE BIO
Family: I have three siblings, one older brother (age 25) and two younger sisters, 20 and 13
Favourite book: Asking for my favourite book has to be one of the hardest questions. However a current favourite would be Sidewalk by Mitchell Duneier
Favourite place to travel to: Any walkable city. I also love nature and wildlife
What do you love eating or cooking: I’m constantly in the kitchen. Ever since I changed the way I eat I enjoy choosing and creating what goes into my body. However, nothing can top home cooked food from my parents.
Favorite place to go in the UAE: A quiet beach.
The bio
Favourite book: Peter Rabbit. I used to read it to my three children and still read it myself. If I am feeling down it brings back good memories.
Best thing about your job: Getting to help people. My mum always told me never to pass up an opportunity to do a good deed.
Best part of life in the UAE: The weather. The constant sunshine is amazing and there is always something to do, you have so many options when it comes to how to spend your day.
Favourite holiday destination: Malaysia. I went there for my honeymoon and ended up volunteering to teach local children for a few hours each day. It is such a special place and I plan to retire there one day.
Normcore explained
Something of a fashion anomaly, normcore is essentially a celebration of the unremarkable. The term was first popularised by an article in New York magazine in 2014 and has been dubbed “ugly”, “bland’ and "anti-style" by fashion writers. It’s hallmarks are comfort, a lack of pretentiousness and neutrality – it is a trend for those who would rather not stand out from the crowd. For the most part, the style is unisex, favouring loose silhouettes, thrift-shop threads, baseball caps and boyish trainers. It is important to note that normcore is not synonymous with cheapness or low quality; there are high-fashion brands, including Parisian label Vetements, that specialise in this style. Embraced by fashion-forward street-style stars around the globe, it’s uptake in the UAE has been relatively slow.
Company%C2%A0profile
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The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Profile
Name: Carzaty
Founders: Marwan Chaar and Hassan Jaffar
Launched: 2017
Employees: 22
Based: Dubai and Muscat
Sector: Automobile retail
Funding to date: $5.5 million
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
more from Janine di Giovanni
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sept 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
Essentials
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Malaysia Airlines all fly direct from the UAE to Kuala Lumpur and on to Penang from about Dh2,300 return, including taxes.
Where to stay
In Kuala Lumpur, Element is a recently opened, futuristic hotel high up in a Norman Foster-designed skyscraper. Rooms cost from Dh400 per night, including taxes. Hotel Stripes, also in KL, is a great value design hotel, with an infinity rooftop pool. Rooms cost from Dh310, including taxes.
In Penang, Ren i Tang is a boutique b&b in what was once an ancient Chinese Medicine Hall in the centre of Little India. Rooms cost from Dh220, including taxes.
23 Love Lane in Penang is a luxury boutique heritage hotel in a converted mansion, with private tropical gardens. Rooms cost from Dh400, including taxes.
In Langkawi, Temple Tree is a unique architectural villa hotel consisting of antique houses from all across Malaysia. Rooms cost from Dh350, including taxes.
Related
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
