BEEAH Group, the sustainability pioneer and digital expert in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, has signed a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) with Atkins, the leading global design, engineering and project management consultancy and a member of the SNC-Lavalin Group, to collaborate in the delivery of projects relating to the off-site treatment of radioactive waste produced by nuclear facilities in the UAE and the wider MENA region.

As part of the JDA, Atkins will work with BEEAH Group on identifying market opportunities for developing radioactive waste disposal facilities, ranging from thermal treatment, size reduction, decontamination, assessment and disposal.

“As a global leader in nuclear power end-to-end engineering and project management services, Atkins helps clients around the world safely treat nuclear waste and secure widespread environmental benefits. We are proud to collaborate with BEEAH and bring our global expertise and regional knowledge, underpinned by digital solutions, to support the UAE’s long-term radioactive waste management strategy and goals in line with the highest quality, safety, and international environmental standards,” said Mr. David Haboubi, Head of Nuclear and Net Zero Energy, Middle East and Africa, Atkins.

Founded in 2007, BEEAH Group is a Sharjah-based public-private partnership organization dedicated to pioneering a sustainable quality of life in the UAE and the region. Bringing together sustainability and digitalization, the organization has utilized future technologies to create end-to-end waste management value chains.

Its integrated waste management strategies have led to a 90 percent landfill waste diversion rate in Sharjah alone, setting a record in the Middle East. BEEAH Group has also diversified into industries that are critical to shaping a sustainable future, including renewable energy, technology, environmental consulting, education, transport, real estate, and healthcare.

The SNC-Lavalin Group, including Atkins, has been developing and licensing nuclear technology for more than six decades, supported by a deep technical knowledge of global policy and regulatory frameworks. Underpinned by a comprehensive Intellectual Property (IP) portfolio of hundreds of patents, the company has an extensive offering of waste management technologies that resolve challenges throughout the nuclear lifecycle including characterization, treatment, immobilization, packaging, storing and disposal to safely manage its nuclear liabilities and protect the environment.