UAE Launches Regional Programme on CBRN Criminal Investigations

On 24 November 2025, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Federal Public Prosecution launched a comprehensive regional programme focused on criminal investigations related to Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) threats. The initiative is organized in partnership with the European Union (EU) CBRN Centres of Excellence (CoE) Initiative funded by the EU. The UAE’s programme is co-funded by the Attorney General’s Office of the UAE and the EU, with technical and institutional cooperation from UNICRI. 

Spanning five integrated training phases, the programme running from November 2025 through April 2026 aims to strengthen national capacity across the full cycle of CBRN incident response: from detection and investigation to prosecution and judicial execution. 

According to Attorney-General Dr. Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, the programme aligns with the UAE's long-term vision for enhancing its justice and security institutions, ensuring readiness to handle complex, cross-border, and high-risk crimes involving CBRN materials. 

A Unified Approach to CBRN Criminalization

Ordinarily, criminalizing offences related to chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats requires states to engage with several international organizations, each with distinct mandates and legal frameworks governing different aspects of CBRN security, and which are spread across different global centres. For chemical crimes, governments work with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in The Hague. Tackling biological crimes involves collaboration with the Implementation Support Unit (ISU) of the Biological Weapons Convention in Geneva and the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) in Geneva and New York. Radiological and nuclear crimes fall under the mandate of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), both headquartered in Vienna. In addition, the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) in New York plays a key role in addressing CBRN terrorism-related threats.

This programme brings all these critical international actors together in one place, offering beneficiary countries a rare and valuable opportunity to access coordinated training and comprehensive guidance across the entire spectrum of CBRN criminalization.

The Criminalization Workshop: Strengthening Legal Frameworks for CBRN Safety and Security

The United Arab Emirates has taken an important step toward strengthening its national security and legal preparedness by participating in a two-day CBRN Criminalization Workshop organized under the framework of the EU CBRN CoE Initiative with technical support from UNICRI. The workshop brought together 46 participants from the UAE, including prosecutors, legal experts, law enforcement representatives, and technical authorities responsible for CBRN-related activities and oversight to enhance the country’s ability to prevent, detect, investigate, and prosecute CBRN-related crimes.

CBRN incidents, whether intentional, accidental, or caused by negligence, require specialised legal tools and well-prepared institutions. The workshop focused on mapping existing UAE legislation, identifying gaps, and ensuring alignment with international conventions, including obligations related to non-proliferation, chemical security, biosafety, and nuclear materials protection.

In a concerted effort to bolster national and regional preparedness, participants reviewed legislative needs, international obligations, and practical tools for criminalizing CBRN-related offences. They also examined how criminal provisions can better address the misuse of CBRN and other dual-use materials, illicit trafficking, unauthorized possession, and deliberate harmful acts involving high-risk substances. This work supports ongoing efforts to refine legislative strategies and ensure that the legal system is equipped to respond to evolving threats that require both technical understanding and precise criminal definitions.

Foundations of CBRN Criminalization

The workshop began with an outline of its core objectives: strengthening national legal frameworks, aligning them with international conventions, and promoting regional cooperation. An introductory presentation on criminalization set the stage, highlighting the necessity of clear and enforceable laws to effectively deter and prosecute CBRN-related offences.

Participants reviewed global CBRN legislation, identifying both best practices and gaps in implementation. A dedicated session on human rights stressed the importance of balancing security priorities with civil liberties, particularly in emergency response and investigative contexts.

International Legal Frameworks for CBRN Criminalization

The Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) was presented as a cornerstone of international efforts to criminalize biological crimes. Experts examined how its provisions can be incorporated into domestic legislation, with particular attention to dual-use technologies and pathogen control.

UAE shared its national approaches to chemical and biological security laws, outlining progress made and challenges faced in harmonising with international standards.

The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) was explored in detail, focusing on criminalizing chemical crimes and ensuring compliance through national legislation. VERTIC (Verification Research, Training and Information Centre) offered guidance on supporting States in fulfilling their CBRN-related criminalization obligations.

Participants also explored the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT), analysing its principal provisions and the ways it complements other frameworks, including the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) and its Amendment.

Supporting the UAE’s National Security Priorities

For the UAE, the workshop is not only a technical exercise — it aligns with the country’s strategic priorities in security, rule of law, and non-proliferation. Strengthening CBRN criminalization improves national preparedness, protects critical infrastructure, and supports regional and international cooperation in combating high-risk threats.

It also contributes to the UAE’s broader goal of maintaining world-class governance standards and reinforcing its standing as a responsible and proactive global partner in security matters.

Broader Context: UAE’s Commitment to Non-Proliferation, Security, and Counter-Terrorism

The UAE has long committed to a peaceful nuclear energy programme, subscribing to the “gold standard” in civilian nuclear energy development and voluntarily foregoing domestic uranium enrichment and reprocessing — a model often cited internationally for transparency and adherence to non-proliferation principles. 

As a signatory to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) since 1996, the UAE has aligned with global efforts to prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction. Its policies reflect a commitment to international peace and regional stability. 

Furthermore, the UAE has engaged actively in combating terrorism, organized crime and illicit financial flows — including money laundering and terror financing — implementing robust legal frameworks, financial intelligence mechanisms, and international cooperation through regional and global fora. 

By integrating CBRN threat mitigation into its broader security and justice strategies, the UAE underscores a holistic approach to contemporary security challenges — from traditional terrorism to non-conventional CBRN-related threats.

Why This Matters — Regional and Global Implications

• Strengthening Rule of Law & Judicial Readiness: By building national capacity — from investigation to prosecution — the UAE helps ensure that CBRN-related crimes are not only detectable and manageable, but also legally actionable. This reduces impunity and deters misuse of hazardous materials.
• Regional Leadership & Capacity Building: As a regional training hub within the Gulf and the broader Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, the UAE can share best practices, expertise, and resources — enhancing overall resilience against CBRN threats across neighboring states.
• Global Cooperation & Standardization: Through its partnership with the EU CBRN CoE and participation in international bodies, the UAE contributes to harmonized global standards, cross-border cooperation, and collective security efforts.
• Bridging Non-Proliferation, Counter-Terrorism, and Criminal Justice: By aligning non-proliferation commitments with criminal justice reforms and counter-terrorism efforts, the UAE presents an integrated approach to modern security risks — acknowledging that threats are transnational and can transcend conventional definitions.

Conclusion

The recent launch of the CBRN investigation, prosecution, and adjudication programme supported by the EU CBRN CoE marks a pivotal moment in the UAE’s security and justice evolution. By building comprehensive capabilities to investigate, prosecute, and adjudicate CBRN crimes, the UAE is not only safeguarding its own national security but also reinforcing its role as a regional and global partner in efforts to prevent and counter illicit CBRN use, proliferation, and financing. This progress underscores the strategic importance of the partnership with the EU CBRN CoE, which enables countries to work together, pool expertise and build coherent responses to complex global challenges that no nation can address alone.

As CBRN threats evolve, including theft or illicit trafficking of hazardous materials, dual-use technologies, and misuse of scientific advances, the UAE’s proactive stance serves as a model for preparedness, cooperation, and rule-of-law.