United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates does not possess nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons programs, but does maintain a substantial missile program. The UAE operates the first nuclear power plant on the Arabian Peninsula, and its civil nuclear cooperation agreement with the U.S. is considered the “Gold Standard” for nonproliferation.
See the UAE's preformance in
Region Middle East and North Africa
4 Reactor units operated at Barakah nuclear power plant (2 operational)
$10 million Donated to the IAEA Low Enriched Uranium (LEU) Bank in Kazakhstan
2 THAAD batteries deployed
Nuclear
- Signed $20 billion deal with South Korea for procurement of 4 nuclear reactors, the first of which began commercial operation in April 2021
- Signed “Gold Standard” 123 agreement with U.S. in 2009, permanently relinquishing pursuit of enrichment and reprocessing capabilities
- Strong supporter of peaceful nuclear energy

Overview of the Nuclear Disarmament Resource Collection
Biological
- Prime Minister announced in 2005 that UAE hoped to become the Middle East’s biotech hub
- Built a Biotechnology & Research Park in Dubai in 2010 that houses companies like Pfizer and Amgen
- Ratified the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention in 2008

Tutorial on Biological Weapons Nonproliferation
United Arab Emirates Overview
Missile
- In January 2022, intercepted Houthi ballistic missiles strike; first successful operational use of THAAD system
- Purchased Black Shaheen cruise missiles from France and the UK in 1998
- Deployed Patriot anti-missile batteries during intervention in Yemeni Civil War
Overview: Applying New Tools to Nonproliferation: A Nuclear Detective Story
Overview of The CNS Missile and SLV Launch Databases
Chemical
- Operates large chemical industrial sector in Chemicals Industry City in Abu Dhabi
- Ratified the Chemical Weapons Convention in 2000
- Does not possess a chemical weapons program

Tutorial on Chemical Weapons Nonproliferation

NTI Tutorials
Treaties and Regimes Memberships
- NTI
- CNS
Analysis
United Arab Emirates

What to Expect From the 2022 NPT Review Conference

NTI Co-Hosts Regional Workshop in Indonesia on Strengthening the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

Deep Fakes and Dead Hands: Artificial Intelligence’s Impact on Strategic Risk

Education Center