Hamad Alkaabi’s fascination with nuclear technology has served UAE well

Hamad Alkaabi, always passionate about atomic energy, is driving the UAE’s quest for safe, clean power, Caline Malek reports.

Hamad Alkaabi, the UAE’s permanent representative to the IAEA, says the UAE’s particular circumstances mean “nuclear always comes to the table as an option”. Delores Johnson / The National

ABU DHABI // From a young age, Hamad Alkaabi has had a fascination with nuclear technology, ultimately leading him to become the UAE’s ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

As one of the country’s most prominent figures in nuclear energy, Mr Alkaabi said his role was only a small contribution towards supporting the country’s growth.

“Nuclear engineering has always been a fascinating technology to me, especially when you look at how much energy you can get from such a small amount of material,” he said. “It was from a young age that I became fascinated in the technology and, as I learned more, I decided to get into understanding how it worked and combined it with my interest in engineering.”

After leaving his hometown of Al Ain at the age of 18, Mr Alkaabi earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in nuclear engineering from Purdue University in the US. “My research focused on nuclear safety and involved work in Texas A&M University under projects sponsored by Sandia National Laboratories,” he said. The lab is a multi-programme engineering and science facility and a contractor for the US Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration.

“I then came back to the UAE and got involved in energy-related work including joining an energy planning team at the Executive Affairs Authority (EAA), which was leading an interagency energy planning committee.”

He worked to develop scenarios and recommendations for the Government, including technologies that could meet the future water and energy demands of the UAE.

“As the UAE started to consider nuclear energy, I was part of the, initially, very small team responsible for the development of a strategy,” he said. “It was a ‘roadmap’ for the UAE nuclear programme including a nuclear policy which was issued in 2008.”

Mr Alkaabi, who was then appointed special representative for international nuclear cooperation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, propelled the UAE to the forefront of nuclear cooperation agreements with other governments, joint projects and industrial involvement in nuclear projects.

“Later that year, I was appointed as UAE permanent representative to the IAEA,” he said. “I also led the work on establishing the required laws in the UAE. It was demanding but successful.”

His passion and dedication to the industry has helped define the UAE’s nuclear programme as one of the best globally.

“For me, nuclear energy is undoubtedly a technology that has a place in the energy sector,” said Mr Alkaabi, also a member of the board of management of the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation. “How it works commercially and environmentally, nuclear always comes to the table as an option. And the UAE will use it sooner or later, especially given the sources we have, including natural gas, as well as the tremendous increase in electricity demands. All of this will gradually lead the UAE to use nuclear.”

His aim is for the UAE to lead in the industry.

“It’s a big part of the solution when you see other countries like China. It goes without question for the UAE to use nuclear energy,” he said. “For me, it’s not something you can just decide to build like a commercial project. Given the sensitivities and how delicate the technology is, my interest was for the UAE to be a leader in using nuclear energy in the right way.”

He said the UAE’s adoption of nuclear policy gave it a lot of credibility to pave the way for a successful sector and strong sustained infrastructure.

“I believe the UAE is a country that always strives to be at the forefront when it comes to clean energy, having sufficient resources and prosperity,” Mr Alkaabi said. “I am so proud to represent my country. It supported my education by providing me scholarships and, having seen what it has offered its citizens, it’s only right to try to contribute back in some way.

“This is a very small contribution to a much bigger payback we get from our country. I believe that every citizen has a responsibility to contribute, whether big or small, as it eventually fits in a bigger picture that supports the UAE’s overall growth.”