United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) voted in favour of adopting the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) at the UN diplomatic conference in 2017 and has consistently voted in favour of the annual UN General Assembly resolutions on the Treaty, including in 2025. The UAE maintains policies and practices that are compatible with all of the prohibitions in Article 1 of the TPNW, and can therefore sign and ratify or accede to the Treaty without the need for a change in conduct.
TPNW Status
| Key weapons of mass destruction treaties | ||
|---|---|---|
| NUCLEAR WEAPONS | ||
| Party to the TPNW | No | |
| Party to the NPT | Yes (Acceded 1995) | |
| Ratified the CTBT | Yes (Ratified 2000) | |
| Party to an NWFZ | No | |
| CSA with the IAEA | Yes (In force 1972) | |
| AP with the IAEA | Yes (In force 2010) | |
| BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL WEAPONS | ||
| Party to the BWC | Yes (Ratified 2008) | |
| Party to the CWC | Yes (Ratified 2000) | |
| TPNW Art. 1(1) prohibitions: Compatibility in 2025 | ||
|---|---|---|
| (a) | Develop, produce, manufacture, acquire | Compatible |
| Possess or stockpile | Compatible | |
| Test | Compatible | |
| (b) | Transfer | Compatible |
| (c) | Receive transfer or control | Compatible |
| (d) | Use | Compatible |
| Threaten to use | Compatible | |
| (e) | Assist, encourage or induce | Compatible |
| (f) | Seek or receive assistance | Compatible |
| (g) | Allow stationing, installation, deployment | Compatible |
| TPNW voting and participation | |
|---|---|
| UNGA resolution on TPNW (latest vote) | Voted yes (2025) |
| Participated in 3MSP (2025) | No |
| Participated in 2MSP (2023) | No |
| Participated in 1MSP (2022) | No |
| Average MSP delegation size (% women) | N/A |
| Adoption of TPNW (7 July 2017) | Voted yes |
| Participated in TPNW negotiations (2017) | Yes |
| Negotiation mandate (A/RES/71/258) | Voted yes |
| Fissile material | |
|---|---|
| Nuclear facilities | Yes |
| Fissile material production | No |
| HEU stocks | No |
| Plutonium stocks | No |
| SQP with the IAEA | No (Rescinded 2021) |
Latest developments
At the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) Preparatory Committee meeting in April 2025, the United Arab Emirates noted ‘the unprecedented challenges and pressures’ that threaten the NPT’s ‘fundamental principles’. It expressed hope ‘that our collective efforts will yield tangible progress towards a world free of nuclear weapons, for a safer future for generations to come’.1
At the same meeting, the UAE delivered a statement on behalf of the Arab Group underscoring that the TPNW is consistent with the objectives of the NPT, in particular its Article VI. The Group pledged to continue following the steps being undertaken to implement the TPNW and to examine the humanitarian impacts of nuclear weapons.2
At a high-level event on 26 September 2025 marking the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, the UAE emphasized its commitment to the total elimination of nuclear weapons. ‘This is the only guarantee that these weapons will not be used or threatened to be used,’ it said. It also expressed concern about the limited progress in the field of nuclear disarmament.3
In the First Committee of the UN General Assembly in October 2025, the UAE said: ‘International agreements and mechanisms related to disarmament and non-proliferation play a vital role in upholding regional and global peace and security.’4
Recommendations
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The UAE should urgently adhere to the TPNW.