DUBAI — The United Arab Emirates signed three agreements with Chinese nuclear energy organizations on Sunday, which experts believe is only the beginning of the nuclear energy goals for the country, and region.
Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, which is developing the UAE’s nuclear energy sector, signed memorandums of understanding with China’s Nuclear Power Operations Research Institute, the China National Nuclear Corporation Overseas, and the China Nuclear Energy Industry Corporation.
This takes place months before the UAE hosts the COP28 global climate summit this year, amid its strategy to shift 6% of its energy needs to nuclear to fulfill its net zero by 2050 plan.
Robert Mogielnicki, senior resident scholar at The Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, said China will play a significant role as the UAE gets serious about diversifying away from oil.