Short answer. In the UAE, ENEC, the state-owned operator of the Barakah nuclear plant, says stable iodine tablets may be given to people evacuated from around the plant, at reception centres where medical teams are on hand 1. No pre-distribution to households was found. In the Abu Dhabi drug list, potassium iodide tablets of 65 mg and 130 mg are prescription-only medicines (POM) 3. Take iodine only when the authorities tell you to.
When would iodine tablets be given out in the UAE?
Only if circumstances demand it during a serious emergency at Barakah. ENEC writes: "If the circumstances demand it, you may be asked to take special stable Iodine tablets. These are quite safe to take and protect your thyroid gland against any iodine that might be released in the event of a serious emergency at the energy plant." 1
The tablets would be handed out at reception centres for evacuees. ENEC adds that if you take other medicines or have concerns, the medical teams at the reception centre will advise you 1. No arrangement to send tablets to homes in advance was found, and ENEC gives no age-specific advice.
Which areas around Barakah are covered by emergency planning?
| Distance from Barakah | What happens | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 16 km | Emergency responders act immediately; the IAEA calls this the urgent protective action planning zone (UPZ) | 12 |
| 100 to 300 km | ENEC says the public is informed of any action needed | 1 |
| 300 km | The IAEA describes an ingestion and commodities planning distance (ICPD) | 2 |
How these zones work in general is explained in /guides/nuclear-plant-zones. How people near Barakah are warned is on the alerts page.
Can I buy iodine tablets in a UAE pharmacy?
Only on prescription, as far as Abu Dhabi is concerned. The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi drug list gives the dispense mode "POM" (prescription-only medicine) for potassium iodide 65 mg tablets (THYROSAFE, TERODA) and 130 mg tablets (TERODA, IOSTAT) 3. The only over-the-counter potassium iodide tablet in that list is a 0.2 mg iodine supplement, which is far too weak to protect the thyroid in a nuclear emergency 3.
The list covers the Abu Dhabi emirate, where Barakah is located 3. The federal register was not checked.
Should I take iodine on my own?
No. ENEC says you may be asked to take the tablets if circumstances demand it 1. No guidance on iodine was found from the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) or the Ministry of Health and Prevention. What iodine does and does not do, and who it matters most for, is explained in /guides/potassium-iodide. Iodine does not protect against other radiation. Sheltering does, as explained in /guides/shelter-or-evacuate.
Frequently asked questions
Does the UAE distribute iodine tablets to homes?
No household pre-distribution was found. ENEC describes tablets being given to evacuees at reception centres if needed 1.
Do I need a prescription for potassium iodide in Abu Dhabi?
Yes. The 65 mg and 130 mg tablets are listed as prescription-only medicines (POM) by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi 3.
Are iodine tablets safe?
ENEC says they "are quite safe to take" and protect the thyroid gland, and medical teams at reception centres will advise people who take other medicines 1. See /guides/potassium-iodide.
Who regulates nuclear safety in the UAE?
The Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR); ENEC operates the Barakah plant. See the emergency contacts page.
Sources
- Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC) — Emergency Preparedness — https://www.enec.ae/regulation/safety-at-enec/emergency-preparedness/ (accessed 2026-10-21)
- International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) — Follow-up to the Peer Appraisal of the Arrangements in the United Arab Emirates Regarding Preparedness and Response for a Nuclear or Radiological Emergency (2019-09-08 – 2019-09-12) — https://www.iaea.org/sites/default/files/documents/review-missions/eprev-uae-120919_0.pdf (accessed 2026-10-21)
- Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (Shafafiya) — Drugs.xlsx, DoH drug coding list — https://shafafiyaportal.doh.gov.ae/dictionary/DrugCoding/Drugs.xlsx (accessed 2026-10-21; read from the Wayback Machine copy of 2026-10-16, https://web.archive.org/web/20261016182550/https://shafafiyaportal.doh.gov.ae/dictionary/DrugCoding/Drugs.xlsx)
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Sources
- Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC) · Emergency Preparedness checked 2026-10-21
- International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) · Follow-up to the Peer Appraisal of the Arrangements in the United Arab Emirates Regarding Preparedness and Response for a Nuclear or Radiological Emergency (2019-09-08 – 2019-09-12) checked 2026-10-21
- Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (Shafafiya) · Drugs.xlsx (DoH drug coding list, Abu Dhabi): Potassium Iodide 65 mg and 130 mg tablets checked 2026-10-21