Residents strongly approve of UAE's Nuclear Energy Programme

A new national poll shows that the vast majority of residents are in favour of the UAE's Peaceful Nuclear Energy Programme.

According to the survey by the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) and independent market researchers Nielsen, 85 per cent approve of the programme, an increase of two per cent compared to 2017.

The study found that one-in-eight think the benefits of nuclear energy outweigh the risks and the same number believe that it can generate electricity in a clean, safe, reliable and efficient way.

Construction of the UAE's first nuclear facility, the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in Al Dhafra, has reached an advanced stage, with the first of four units already built, and eighty-seven per cent say using it to create electricity will support the country's transition to low-carbon energy sources.

Support for the development is even stronger among Al Dhafra residents, with 94 per cent saying they are in favour, up from 84 per cent in 2017.

The survey also revealed that the UAE has some of the highest favourability rates for nuclear energy in the world, while confidence in ENEC itself is also strong, with nine-in-ten residents claiming to trust the corporation and 98 per cent saying they believe it will always put safety first.