UAE steps up radiation safety with search and recovery drive

The UAE is taking proactive steps to strengthen radiation safety.

The Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) has carried out its annual search and recovery campaign to detect and manage radioactive materials in scrap and industrial areas.

Working with other local authorities, FANR teams visited industrial sites across the country to strengthen radiation safety in the scrap and recycling sector.

The campaign focuses on early detection and proper handling of radioactive sources, while raising awareness among scrap dealers on how to respond safely and use detection equipment.

FANR warned that so-called “orphan sources” — radioactive materials that are lost, abandoned or outside regulatory control — can pose serious risks if not properly handled.

FANR’s Radiation Safety Director, Aayda Al Shehhi, said the campaign reflects the authority’s proactive approach to radiation safety, ensuring radioactive materials are identified and managed in line with international standards.

The authority stressed that improper handling of radioactive materials can lead to unintended exposure and environmental contamination, and urged companies to immediately report any lost or disused radioactive sources to ensure their safe recovery and disposal.

FANR recently conducted its annual search and recovery campaign for lost radioactive sources across the UAE#الإمارات #uae #nuclear pic.twitter.com/Puv8NMKQBH

— FANR UAE (@FANRUAE) January 8, 2026