The United Arab Emirates restored external power supply to Unit 3 of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant on Monday after a drone strike caused a fire near the strategic facility, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), easing immediate concerns over the safety of the Gulf region’s most important civilian nuclear site.
In a statement released Monday, the IAEA said UAE authorities informed the agency that off-site electricity had been successfully restored to the reactor unit following emergency stabilization measures implemented after the attack. The fire reportedly broke out in an electrical generator located outside the inner perimeter of the nuclear plant after a drone strike late Sunday.
The Barakah Nuclear Power Plant, located in Abu Dhabi’s Al Dhafra region, is the Arab world’s first operational nuclear energy facility and supplies a substantial portion of the UAE’s electricity demand.
The UAE confirmed there were no injuries, no radioactive leaks, and radiation levels remained normal throughout the incident. Emergency diesel generators were activated to maintain operational stability at Unit 3 until external power was restored.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi expressed concern over the growing risks posed by military escalation in the Gulf, warning that attacks targeting such infrastructure could have catastrophic regional consequences. The agency also said the IAEA reiterated warnings against attacks on nuclear facilities.
The UAE government described the incident as a “dangerous escalation” and launched an investigation into the origin of the drones. According to Emirati authorities, three drones entered the country from the western direction, with two intercepted by air defense systems while one reached the vicinity of the Barakah facility and ignited the fire.
The incident unfolded amid heightened regional tensions linked to the ongoing confrontation involving Iran, Israel, and the US across West Asia. Analysts warned that cross-border strikes risk dragging the region into wider war as military escalation intensifies across multiple fronts.
The strike marked one of the most serious security incidents involving civilian nuclear infrastructure in the Gulf region in recent years. Experts said regional fears over attacks targeting civilian infrastructure have increased sharply since the latest wave of drone warfare began spreading across the region.
Security analysts also warned that strategic energy and nuclear infrastructure could increasingly become targets as threatens to deepen one of the most dangerous geopolitical crises in the Gulf in recent years.
The Barakah facility represents a cornerstone of the UAE’s long-term energy strategy. Developed with South Korean technology, the plant consists of four APR-1400 nuclear reactors with a combined generating capacity capable of supplying up to 25 percent of the UAE’s electricity demand.
The incident revived broader international concerns over the vulnerability of nuclear facilities during armed conflicts. Analysts said critical infrastructure once considered relatively protected is now increasingly exposed to low-cost drone attacks capable of bypassing traditional air defense systems.
According to regional observers, Saudi Arabia and the UAE intercepted incoming drones during previous episodes of regional escalation, underscoring the growing vulnerability of Gulf infrastructure.
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that attacks on peaceful nuclear facilities violate international law and pose grave dangers not only to the country itself but also to regional environmental and civilian safety.
Meanwhile, energy analysts warned that global energy markets reacted nervously to the incident, amid concerns over the safety of shipping routes and energy infrastructure across the Gulf.
The incident has also intensified concerns over regional influence and Gulf security, particularly as military tensions continue spreading across West Asia.
The IAEA said it remains in constant contact with UAE authorities and is continuing to monitor the situation closely. The agency also warned that drone warfare has dramatically altered the security environment surrounding strategic facilities across the Middle East.
—Inputs from Sputnik.
