emirates7 - The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) has introduced the Graduate Plant Operator (GPO) Programme to prepare the next generation of Emirati leaders in nuclear operations. The initiative underscores ENEC’s commitment to developing skilled national talent that will sustain and advance the UAE’s nuclear energy sector.
The programme is open to high-performing Emirati graduates holding bachelor’s degrees in engineering fields such as Electrical, Mechanical, or Nuclear Engineering. It provides a structured pathway that combines theoretical knowledge with hands-on experience, equipping participants with the operational expertise needed for long-term careers in nuclear plant operations and management.
Participants will start as Local Operators at the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, where they will gain first-hand exposure to the plant’s operational systems. After three years of training, qualified operators will advance to Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) training—an essential role responsible for overseeing the safe operation, maintenance, and testing of critical systems.
Mohamed Al Hammadi, Managing Director and CEO of ENEC, emphasized that the GPO Programme represents a strategic investment in national human capital. “By equipping today’s graduates with advanced skills, we are securing the UAE’s clean energy future and ensuring our plant continues to operate to the highest standards of safety, security, and efficiency,” he said. He further highlighted that nuclear energy not only strengthens energy security and sustainability but also offers long-term, high-value career opportunities, with nuclear plants providing job stability for the next century.
The GPO Programme is part of ENEC’s wider education and training portfolio designed to build a strong pipeline of professionals for the Barakah Plant, which will operate for at least 60 years. It complements the Graduate Development Programme (GDP), which offers 12–30 months of workplace-based learning for Emirati graduates across both technical and support functions. Admission requirements for the two programmes are closely aligned.
Since its establishment, ENEC has developed over a thousand Emirati professionals through initiatives such as Scholarships, Train for Work, the GDP, the Diploma in Nuclear Technology (DNT), and Internship opportunities. With state-of-the-art facilities at Barakah, ENEC has already trained more than 70 Emirati Senior Reactor Operators and Reactor Operators, forming a core part of the plant’s 190-strong operations team—demonstrating the UAE’s success in cultivating a highly skilled local nuclear workforce.
Emirati graduates interested in applying to the GPO Programme or exploring other career development opportunities can visit: [www.enec.gov.ae/careers](http://www.enec.gov.ae/careers).
The programme is open to high-performing Emirati graduates holding bachelor’s degrees in engineering fields such as Electrical, Mechanical, or Nuclear Engineering. It provides a structured pathway that combines theoretical knowledge with hands-on experience, equipping participants with the operational expertise needed for long-term careers in nuclear plant operations and management.
Participants will start as Local Operators at the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, where they will gain first-hand exposure to the plant’s operational systems. After three years of training, qualified operators will advance to Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) training—an essential role responsible for overseeing the safe operation, maintenance, and testing of critical systems.
Mohamed Al Hammadi, Managing Director and CEO of ENEC, emphasized that the GPO Programme represents a strategic investment in national human capital. “By equipping today’s graduates with advanced skills, we are securing the UAE’s clean energy future and ensuring our plant continues to operate to the highest standards of safety, security, and efficiency,” he said. He further highlighted that nuclear energy not only strengthens energy security and sustainability but also offers long-term, high-value career opportunities, with nuclear plants providing job stability for the next century.
The GPO Programme is part of ENEC’s wider education and training portfolio designed to build a strong pipeline of professionals for the Barakah Plant, which will operate for at least 60 years. It complements the Graduate Development Programme (GDP), which offers 12–30 months of workplace-based learning for Emirati graduates across both technical and support functions. Admission requirements for the two programmes are closely aligned.
Since its establishment, ENEC has developed over a thousand Emirati professionals through initiatives such as Scholarships, Train for Work, the GDP, the Diploma in Nuclear Technology (DNT), and Internship opportunities. With state-of-the-art facilities at Barakah, ENEC has already trained more than 70 Emirati Senior Reactor Operators and Reactor Operators, forming a core part of the plant’s 190-strong operations team—demonstrating the UAE’s success in cultivating a highly skilled local nuclear workforce.
Emirati graduates interested in applying to the GPO Programme or exploring other career development opportunities can visit: [www.enec.gov.ae/careers](http://www.enec.gov.ae/careers).