India UAE Set to Build Stronger Nuclear Energy Partnership

India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have announced plans to enhance bilateral civil nuclear cooperation, marking a major expansion of their strategic and technological partnership. The move comes as both nations seek to address growing energy demand while advancing climate commitments and clean energy goals.

The collaboration is enabled by India’s new Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act 2025, which allows private and foreign participation in nuclear power projects under a reformed regulatory framework. Both sides will explore partnerships in large nuclear reactors, small modular reactors (SMRs), advanced reactor systems, plant operations, maintenance, and nuclear safety.

Speaking after bilateral talks in New Delhi, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri highlighted that the cooperation signals a shift from conventional energy engagement toward technology-driven collaboration with both strategic and commercial implications. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan welcomed the SHANTI Act as creating new opportunities for enhanced civil nuclear cooperation.

Also Read: IndiGo Penalised by DGCA, Commits to Stronger Flight Operations

For India, the partnership supports its goal of rapidly expanding low-carbon baseload power while attracting international expertise and investment. The UAE, which operates the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant supplying 25% of its electricity, sees India as a key partner to diversify nuclear technology engagement beyond traditional Western suppliers and develop advanced reactors for emerging economies.

Experts note that the deal aligns with both nations’ post-fossil fuel ambitions. Robinder Sachdev of Imagindia highlighted India’s indigenous SMR technologies as a strong complement to the UAE’s nuclear ambitions, while Harsh V Pant of King’s College London emphasized that nuclear energy is central to the UAE’s strategy for a modern, green economy.

The India–UAE nuclear partnership reflects not only a shared energy vision but also growing strategic trust, technological ambition, and sustainable development goals. Analysts predict that this collaboration will serve as a cornerstone for future clean energy projects, positioning both nations as leaders in the nuclear energy sector in the Global South.

Also Read: Bill Gates: Open-Source AI Could Let Terrorists Build Bioweapons