The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that power has been restored to Unit 3 of the Barakah nuclear plant in the United Arab Emirates, days after a drone strike targeted the facility. The incident, which involved an unmanned aerial vehicle hitting the plant, triggered a temporary outage at the unit, according to the IAEA. The agency did not provide details on who carried out the attack or the extent of any damage.
What happened at Barakah
The Barakah plant, located in the Al Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi, is the Arab world's first multi-unit nuclear power station. Unit 3 began commercial operation earlier this year. The drone strike occurred while the unit was operating, forcing an immediate shutdown. The IAEA said its inspectors on the ground verified that the plant's safety systems functioned as designed, preventing any release of radiation.
The UAE's Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation has not publicly commented on the specifics of the incident. The country's Energy and Infrastructure Ministry said in a statement that all four units at Barakah continue to operate within safety parameters, without mentioning the drone attack.
IAEA's role in the response
The Vienna-based IAEA said it received notification from the UAE authorities shortly after the drone strike and dispatched a team to assist with the assessment. The agency confirmed that power was restored to Unit 3 on [date, not specified in facts] and that the unit has since returned to stable operation. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi noted in a press release that the agency's presence on the ground helped ensure transparency, though he did not provide further details.
This is not the first time a nuclear facility has been targeted by a drone. The Barakah plant sits in a region where cross-border drone attacks have become more frequent in recent years. The Gulf state has invested heavily in air defense systems, but the strike suggests vulnerabilities remain.
Wider implications for nuclear security
The attack raises questions about how well civilian nuclear sites are protected against low-flying drones, a threat that has grown globally. The IAEA has long warned that member states need to update their security protocols to address such risks. The Barakah incident is likely to accelerate discussions at the agency's next board meeting, where member states are expected to review lessons learned.
For now, the UAE is focused on maintaining normal operations at the plant. Barakah's four units, when fully online, will supply about 25% of the country's electricity. Unit 4 is still under construction and not yet operational. The plant is operated by the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, a subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi government.
The IAEA has not released a timeline for its full investigation. A detailed report is expected in the coming weeks, though the agency has not confirmed when it will be made public.
