The UAE said on Wednesday that it “strongly condemns” reported acts of violence at nuclear power plants in Ukraine that have triggered fears of a disaster.
Hamad Alkaabi, the UAE's permanent representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency, said averting a nuclear catastrophe was “of utmost importance”.
Mr Alkaabi also called on Iran to co-operate with the IAEA to “build confidence” that its nuclear activities are peaceful.
He spoke at non-proliferation talks taking place in Vienna after a summit last year ended in a stalemate because of differences over the war in Ukraine.
Russia and Ukraine have both blamed the other over reports of shelling near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.
The IAEA said last week that its experts had found anti-personnel mines on the edge of the Zaporizhzhia site.
Fighting near the site of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986 also caused concern after Russia invaded Ukraine last year.
“It is of utmost importance for the international community to prevent nuclear disasters, whether resulting from direct attacks on nuclear facilities or inadvertent consequences of conflict,” Mr Alkaabi said.
“We strongly condemn reported violent actions at nuclear facilities in Ukraine, as such actions pose serious threats to the safety and security of these facilities, their personnel, the public and the environment.”
Russian troops occupied the Zaporizhzhia plant early on in the invasion but it continues to be operated by Ukrainian staff.
Moscow recently announced that it would send short-range nuclear weapons to Belarus, its close ally.
Izumi Nakamitsu, the UN's high representative for disarmament, called on Russia and the US to observe their last remaining arms control treaties and discuss “what is needed” in the future.
Mr Alkaabi said the UAE " continues to advocate for diplomacy and dialogue” with regard to Iran, which is in a long-running dispute with the IAEA over unexplained nuclear activities.
Iran's compliance with non-proliferation and safeguards agreements “is essential to build confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of its nuclear programme”, Mr Alkaabi said.
“Credible explanations and full co-operation and transparency with the IAEA are crucial in this regard.”
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The BIO:
He became the first Emirati to climb Mount Everest in 2011, from the south section in Nepal
He ascended Mount Everest the next year from the more treacherous north Tibetan side
By 2015, he had completed the Explorers Grand Slam
Last year, he conquered K2, the world’s second-highest mountain located on the Pakistan-Chinese border
He carries dried camel meat, dried dates and a wheat mixture for the final summit push
His new goal is to climb 14 peaks that are more than 8,000 metres above sea level
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Honeymoonish
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Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
