UAE Regulatory Forum Led By FANR Advances Cross-Border Regulatory Cooperation

The Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) held the first UAE Regulatory Forum to improve coordination among regulators, strengthen oversight systems, and support more efficient application of laws and regulations across the country, bringing together key national authorities under one common discussion platform.

The gathering was attended by Abdulla Nasser Al Suwaidi, Chairman of FANR, alongside senior representatives from federal and local regulatory bodies. Their participation highlighted how the UAE Government continued to prioritise joint work between regulators as issues grew more complex and linked across sectors.

Through structured sessions and open exchanges, the UAE Regulatory Forum offered a space where different regulators discussed best practices, reviewed lessons learned, and compared approaches to supervision, emerging technologies, and regulatory updates, with the aim of improving implementation while maintaining high standards of public protection.

The forum also supported broader national programmes designed to strengthen cooperation and innovation in government operations. These included initiatives such as Government Accelerators and the Regulatory Lab, which encouraged evidence-based policy, flexible regulation, and joint work between entities on shared regulatory priorities and projects.

"Strong cooperation and continuous dialogue among regulators are essential to addressing shared challenges, strengthening regulatory frameworks, and ensuring the effective implementation of laws and regulations. This forum supports the UAE’s whole-of-government approach and reinforces our collective responsibility to protect society, enable innovation, and uphold international regulatory standards," said Christer Viktorsson, FANR Director-General.

Christer Viktorsson explained that the progress of the UAE nuclear programme, and FANR’s performance as an independent regulator, had depended on long-term cooperation between government institutions, demonstrating why alignment, information sharing, and shared responsibilities were central to meeting national objectives safely and efficiently.

During the UAE Regulatory Forum, participating authorities held targeted discussions on regulatory methodologies, operational hurdles, and ways to harmonise approaches. The exchanges aimed to develop realistic measures that would help each entity deliver its mandate while still supporting the UAE’s broader policy and development agenda.

Deliberations over the course of the event produced a common list of outcomes focused on better coordination across regulators, strengthening national and international confidence in UAE oversight systems, supporting zero bureaucracy and digital integration efforts, and guiding the careful use of new technologies, including artificial intelligence, within regulatory frameworks.

By the end of the first UAE Regulatory Forum, organisers and participants had outlined clear next steps that supported a more aligned national regulatory system, showing continued commitment to strong oversight, cooperation on complex issues, and the safe integration of innovation into government work across the UAE.

With inputs from WAM