UAE Air Defences Intercept Two Drones As Third Hits Area Near Barakah Nuclear Plant

A fire at a generator near the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in Abu Dhabi followed a drone strike, officials said, adding that radiation levels stayed normal and no injuries occurred. The UN nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, reported being informed of the incident and voiced concern about safety risks.

The IAEA stated on X that Director General Rafael Grossi showed "grave concern" about the drone strike near the United Arab Emirates nuclear power plant. Grossi added: "Military activity that threatens nuclear safety is unacceptable." The agency stressed that Barakah continued to operate within normal radiological safety limits.

Drone strike near Barakah Nuclear Power Plant highlights nuclear power plant security

Local authorities later detailed how the incident unfolded at the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in the Al Dhafra Region. "Authorities in Abu Dhabi responded to a fire incident that broke out in an electrical generator outside the inner perimeter of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in the Al Dhafra Region, caused by a drone strike," the Abu Dhabi Media Office wrote in a social media post.

The same statement from Abu Dhabi underlined that emergency response teams controlled the situation and confirmed there was no direct harm to people or the reactor systems. "No injuries were reported, and there was no impact on radiological safety levels," it added, reassuring residents and regional partners about plant safety.

The UAE's Defense Ministry said investigations were underway to find the source of the drone attack that hit the generator outside the Barakah nuclear power plant. According to the ministry, air defences dealt "successfully" with two drones, while a third struck the generator area after being launched from the "western border", with no extra details provided.

Officials from the UAE and the IAEA continue to share information on the drone strike near the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant, while technical checks confirm systems are stable. Authorities emphasised that plant operations and radiological safety remain unaffected, even as security agencies probe who sent the drones and why.