The Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant is the first nuclear power station on the Arabian Peninsula, located in the Al Dhafra region of the UAE, approximately 225 km west of Abu Dhabi near the Saudi border.
May 2026 Drone Attack
On May 17, 2026, three drones — launched from the UAE’s “western border” — targeted the plant during operation-epic-fury. UAE air defences intercepted two; the third struck a perimeter electrical generator, sparking a fire. One reactor temporarily relied on emergency diesel generators. The IAEA’s Rafael Grossi expressed “grave concern,” warning that military activity threatening nuclear facilities is “unacceptable.” The UAE nuclear regulator confirmed radiation levels remained normal throughout (src-barakah-nuclear-drone-attack-2026-05).
The attack represents the first documented drone strike on a nuclear power facility during an active conflict in the vault’s coverage period, extending the nuclear-site drone incursion pattern internationally.