UAE and US Sign 123 Agreement for Civilian Nuclear Cooperation

The United Arab Emirates and the United States signed a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement under Section 123 of the U.S. Atomic Energy Act, granting the UAE access to American nuclear technology and expertise. The UAE committed to forgoing domestic uranium enrichment and plutonium reprocessing — a voluntary constraint stricter than required under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The agreement set the legal foundation for U.S. firms to participate in building the UAE's first nuclear power plant.