United Arab Emirates Prepares Nuclear Program

The United Arab Emirates is drafting a nuclear energy policy for review by major world powers and the International Atomic Energy Agency, putting the country on track to become the first Middle Eastern nation to pursue such an effort with international backing, the Financial Times reported Sunday (see GSN, Jan. 15).

The United Arab Emirates and five other countries in the region last year informed the U.N. nuclear watchdog of their interest in developing nuclear power capabilities for civilian use.

The United Arab Emirates said it plans to import uranium fuel for its nuclear plants and has no intention of enriching its own uranium, a process that can produce a nuclear-weapon material.

The country is also prepared to sign the Additional Protocol to its safeguards agreement with the agency, which would allow IAEA investigators to conduct short-notice inspections of its nuclear facilities, according to one governmental official (Rhoula Khalaf, Financial Times, Jan. 20).

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