Sheikh Mohamed, who is also deputy supreme commander of the armed forces, praised the commitment of the team at the facility.

UAE Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has hailed the “remarkable progress” being made at the Emirati facility, the first of its kind in the Arab world, and stressed the need to go ahead with the project despite the exceptional circumstances created by the coronavirus.

Sheikh Mohamed, who is also deputy supreme commander of the armed forces, praised the commitment of the team at the facility, which he said typified the country’s “pioneering spirit.”

“Today we witnessed remarkable progress at the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant,” said Sheikh Mohamed on Twitter.

“We are grateful for the resilience and commitment of the Barakah team who truly represent this country’s pioneering spirit. This project is a source of pride for everyone who calls the UAE home.”

When completed, the Barakah facility will have four reactors with a total capacity of 5,600 megawatts of electricity and will be able to provide up to 25% of the UAE’s energy needs.

Sheikh Mohamed also hailed the country’s successful partnership with South Korea, a strategic partner in the peaceful nuclear energy field.

“South Korea is a strategic partner of the UAE in many fields, particularly in peaceful nuclear energy. We are thankful and proud of this long-standing relationship that has enabled the exchange of specialised expertise, and contributed to the UAE’s long-term prosperity,” he said.