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4.4.1 Country Profile

The UAE is an Arab country in the southeast region of the Arabian Peninsula, comprising seven states, also known as emirates. Each of these are governed by a hereditary Emir, and together form the Federal Supreme Council. Abu Dhabi is the federal capital of UAE, whilst Dubai is the UAE's largest city. As of June 2016, the population of the UAE was approximately 9.5 million (UAE World Population Review, 2018).

The UAE escaped the "Arab Spring" in March 2011, which spread elsewhere in the Middle East, where political activists and intellectuals signed a petition calling for greater public participation in governance that was widely circulated on the Internet. In an effort to curtail potential further conflict, the government announced a multi-year, USD1.6 billion

164 infrastructure investment plans for the poorer northern emirates and aggressively pursued advocates of political reform (CIA UAE, 2014).

The UAE’s decision to choose nuclear power, even though it has extensive oil and gas reserves, is driven by the increase in demand for electricity from its expanding industries. Projections show that, with current electricity demand against current production capability, the UAE’s reserves will be outstripped between two and three-fold by 2020. The problem is aggravated by the huge financial and environmental impact caused by the increased burning of crude oil to generate electricity. The UAE is confident that investment in nuclear energy is the most environmentally promising and commercially competitive option to meet future electricity demand (U.S.-UAE Business Council, 2009). The decision for nuclear energy was based on the UAE’s energy projection and recent analysis conducted by official UAE entities, which concluded that national annual peak demand for electricity is likely to rise to more than 40,000 MW’s by 2020, reflecting a cumulative annual growth rate of roughly 9% from 2007 onward. Thus, the UAE’s interest in evaluating nuclear energy is motivated by the need to develop additional sources of electricity to meet future demand projections and to ensure the continued rapid development of its economy (UAE, 2008).

4.4.2 United Arab Emirates’ Foreign Policy

Since its formation on December 2nd, 1971, the UAE has adopted the principles set by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan as key guidelines of the country's foreign policy. The policy was developed with the aim to become a role model to other countries in representing wisdom, balance and temperance, without compromising rights and justice. Thus, the foundations of UAE foreign policy comprise good

165 neighbourliness, understanding, and non-interference in internal issues, as well as the amicable resolution of disputes. The outcomes of this policy were mutual openness between the UAE and the world, and strategic partnerships on the political, economic, trade, cultural, educational, scientific, and health levels with many countries in all continents, asserting the prominent position the country has gained in the international community. Several aspects of the UAE’s foreign policy lead to the success of their nuclear power agreements with nuclear supplier states (UAE, n.d.). The UAE also ascertained that openness should bring opportunities and good prospects to the UAE, in particular foreign investments, trade and business. Besides in economy, defence is also the priority in the UAE foreign policy. Progressively, the UAE is becoming active both regional and international level to establish regional security and stability, once championed by the Saudi Arabia. The UAE is showing signs of becoming an important ally for Washington by building diplomatic ties including with Russia (Mason, 2018). Significant of military power also due to the episode of ‘Arab Spring’ that swept through the Arab region at the end of 2010. The UAE together with the Saudi Arabia are among the most active players in the region, not only succeed avoiding the wave of changes sparked by the Spring, but active interfering foreign policy in some Arab countries that they distinguish as a threat to their national security and their role in the region (Ragab, 2017).

Beside bilateral cooperation and partnerships, the UAE is also active in multilateral and regional cooperation. The UAE is one of the founders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which implies its commitment and determination to ensure the member countries enjoy excellent high-level relations and has played a major role in the council concerning efforts to enhance cooperation, appreciating the integrated political, economic,

166 security and social goals. To reach these goals, the UAE has been working closely with other members in the GCC, the Arab League and other groups to support all efforts and diplomatic moves, particularly with containing conflicts in the Middle East and the Gulf Region. The UAE also continuously emphasised the importance of good faith in dispute resolution and fully supports the GCC common work and developing mutual relations with member countries through bilateral agreements, communicating, and consulting through mutual visits on all levels.

Another important element in the UAE’s foreign policy is the tolerance and co-existence between people and nations as a requisite for the stability and prosperity of the region. This is a principle that constitutes an important angle in its foreign relations policy on the external and internal levels, for the near and short term. For this reason, the UAE has set a social development pattern as an example of tolerance and coexistence, through an educational and cultural project with the specific aim to deepen values in the younger generation and society. It was started by updating and modernising educational systems to cope with the latest technologies and respond to the needs and requirements of development that is driven by a strong belief that education should be provided to everyone. This of course will require the dedication of all resources, since the educational process is the best and ultimate weapon against poverty and ignorance that represents fertile soil for extremism and terrorism. This was also a lesson learned from the impact of social media in the Arab World that led to the Arab Spring. Moving in the direction of implementing this, the UAE has developed a concept called “the World is one global village” and has rolled out a series of initiatives, such as ‘Dubai, the City that Cares’, which has provided educational services to more than four million children from 14 countries in Africa, Southern Asia and the Middle East, through

167 partnerships with several organisations around the world. The purpose is to provide the opportunities and services of basic education to all children in the world, regardless of their nationality and race.

Finally, in order to maintain its stability and peace, the UAE is very clear in their foreign policy towards terrorism and extremism. Regional security continues to be a top priority and the UAE has engaged internationally in efforts to respond to the rising conflicts in the Middle East and the North African region. In this regard, the UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs stressed in his speech during the 69th UN General Assembly on September 27th, 2014, that the UAE is committed and willing to cooperate with all efforts aiming at exterminating terrorism in all forms, including financing terrorist activities,

I once again reiterate the UAE’s firm position towards renouncing terrorism and extremism in all their forms and whatever their sources are. My country is fulfilling its responsibilities and is committed to participate constructively at the national, regional and international levels to combating violent extremism, and affiliated beliefs and terrorist acts. The UAE, through its membership in the Global Counterterrorism Forum, coordinates with other international organizations and concerned countries to ensure that their territories are not exploited in facilitating or executing terrorist acts, as well as other related crimes such as financing terrorism, human trafficking and recruitment of people for committing such egregious crimes. Through hosting the Hedayah Center for training, dialogue and research to combat violent extremism, the UAE continues to support the international community in building capacities and exchanging the best practices on this issue.

My country also continues to develop its national policies and its legislative and executive systems in order to deter and confront all acts of terrorism, eradicate its roots and protect our youth from being lured into the circle of extremism and violence. To this end, the UAE recently adopted a federal law on combating terrorist crimes, which contains strict penalties against those found guilty of inciting terrorism or committing terrorist acts. The UAE is also

168 strengthening preventive policies by establishing centres for the rehabilitation of people influenced by extremist and terrorist ideologies (AlNahyan, 2014).

In addition, during the UN General Assembly on September 27th, 2014, Abdullah Zayed also stated, “The UAE also denounces the brutal methods used by such groups in the name of Islam, as Islam rejects such crimes, which are inconsistent with the moderate approach of Islam and the principles of peaceful coexistence among all people” (AlNahyan, 2014).

4.4.3 Relationship between the US and the United Arab Emirates

The US and the UAE have a long-standing relationship (Ibish, 2017) that started with a shared declaration to promote peace and security in the Gulf, counter extremism and deter threats to regional instability (UAE, n.d). However, in recent years the interest has expanded into trade and economics, and cultural partnerships. Since then, the UAE has developed a good relationship with the U.S. and the UAE became the largest export market in the Middle East for the U.S. (UAE Embassy, 2012). In relation to this positive development, the UAE and the U.S. established an Economic Policy Dialogue, which is a formal government-to-government programme with the intention of facilitating bilateral business and increased investment, as well as enhancing the role of the private sector to promote economic growth in both countries. The unique regional model of tolerance and free markets introduced by the country also aided the UAE’s economic growth, which have attracted many investors (UAE, n.d). Cooperation between these two countries was later strengthened by the visit of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, to Washington, in April 2015.

169 The meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama mainly discussed strategic relations and regional developments with a focus on issues in the Gulf region, including negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme (UAE WAM, 2015).

Moreover, to ensure that economic growth continued and to protect their interests, the UAE needed to resolve some conflicts, instability and threats in the region such as nuclear weapons proliferation, terrorism and extremism, unwelcome aggression against other nations, and risks to vital sea-lanes. These have led to the next steps in their cooperation, where the UAE is working closely with the U.S. to continually improve national security. Among other activities in UAE-US Strategic Partnership (UAE, n.d) is through strengthening the safety and security of UAE ports in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Both ports are essential to the U.S. naval operations because these ports are the only deep harbours in the Arabian Gulf accessible to U.S. aircraft carriers. In fact, more U.S. naval vessels visit UAE ports than any others outside of the U.S. Cooperation agreements included the Memorandum of Understanding between Abu Dhabi Port Company (ADPC) and Virginia Port Authority (VPA), U.S. in 2011 (UAE, n.d).

The Gulf War has led the UAE to initiate a security relationship with the U.S. and this was demonstrated through the signing of the US-UAE Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) in 1994 that remains in effect by mutual agreement. Under this pact, about 5,000 U.S. military personnel are stationed at UAE military facilities, as well other western forces including France (Katzman, 2017). This military cooperation then continued until now through regularly cooperate on both training and operational missions and exercises to strengthen their military strategic partnership. In order to strengthen their military strategies, the UAE

170 expanded collaboration on military technology with the U.S., for example, the UAE is the only Arab nation to participate with the U.S. in five alliance actions over the last 20 years, including a ten-year Special Forces deployment with NATO in Afghanistan and Libya. The UAE and U.S. forces also participate regularly in military joint training exercises, in order to improve coordination and interoperability. In December 2012, a multinational initiative to counter and deter terrorism and extremism in all of its forms and manifestations through training, dialogue, collaboration, and research has been established by the UAE. This initiative is known as the Center for Countering Violent Extremism or known as Hedayah (Hedayah, 2015)

Analysts observed that the U.S. motivation for maintaining a strong relationship with the Gulf Arab countries stems from two primary considerations. First, many of these countries, including the UAE, are major energy producers that collectively possess a significant percentage of the world’s proven oil and natural gas reserves. Second, but closely related, these countries are strategically located in the Gulf region: The majority of the world’s exported petroleum must pass through the Gulf waters en route to the global marketplace and many of the most significant U.S. trading partners, particularly in South and East Asia. This oil has long been the metaphorical lifeblood of the international economy (Ibish, 2017:7).

A long-standing relationship between the United Arab Emirates and the U.S. in economic and strategic partnership also made nuclear cooperation easier. The involvement of the UAE in bilateral and multilateral initiatives that were designed by the U.S. to enhance nuclear safety and control processes were also factors in this good relationship. The UAE has participated in the U.S. Container Security Initiative (CSI),

171 a security regime that includes a team of U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers permanently stationed inside Dubai's ports, working closely with Dubai Customs to monitor containers destined for the US. Additionally, the UAE is working closely with the U.S. Department of Energy to implement the Megaports Initiative, a cooperative effort aimed at deterring terrorists from using the world's seaports to ship illicit materials; detecting nuclear or radioactive materials if shipped via sea cargo; and interdicting harmful materials so they cannot be used by terrorists. Furthermore, ports operated by Dubai Ports World participate in the Security Freight Initiative, an initiative by the U.S. to screen U.S.- bound cargo for radiation (UAE Embassy, 2015). The UAE also participated in the U.S.-led PSI as part of efforts to stop proliferation- related trade in WMDs, related materials and delivery systems through ports, territorial waters, airspace, or land might be used for proliferation purposes by states and non-state actors of proliferation concern (PSI, 2015). A major agreement in nuclear cooperation with the U.S. is the 123 Agreement. The U.S. also sees this agreement as an opportunity for U.S. Businesses.

The U.S. and the UAE can advance critical security, economic and commercial goals with the 123 Agreement, while also creating a significant number of jobs. U.S. companies would have access to an important and potentially large market—and better position themselves as a global nuclear energy market continues to develop. The U.S. government would gain a greater role in supporting the UAE’s model for the development of peaceful, civilian nuclear energy. Moreover, the UAE would have access to some of the world’s safest and best nuclear energy technology (U.S.- UAE Business Council, 2009).

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4.4.4 UAE’s Nuclear Power Programme

The states in the Arab world that possess no developed nuclear infrastructure include Bahrain, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen. Most of them have engaged in several technical-cooperation projects with the IAEA, with a particular focus on nuclear medicine and radiation protection. Several have also expressed an interest in nuclear power. In late 2006, the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council announced that it would undertake a study for a collective nuclear-energy programme, but little has transpired from this study yet. Among the national plans, only the UAE has moved forward. In December 2009, Abu Dhabi contracted with a South Korean consortium to construct four nuclear power reactors, which are scheduled to be in operation by 2020. Up to 2,300 staff will be required to operate the plants, of whom 60% or more are supposed to be UAE citizens eventually. In the meantime, like other newcomers in nuclear power programmes, the UAE nuclear programme will depend heavily on foreign expertise. Another example is the USD20-billion worth mega project contracted to the South Korean-led consortium with participation also from Westinghouse to build four nuclear reactors for commercial energy generation in the UAE. The UAE believes that the most environmentally friendly and most sustainable solution to its energy requirements is electricity generated by nuclear plants. Therefore, nuclear reactors will become the UAE’s second most important source of energy after natural gas, producing about 25 per cent of the country’s electricity by 2020 and ensuring the continued economic development of the nation (UAE, 2008).

The UAE has embarked on a programme to build civilian nuclear power plants and is seeking cooperation and technical assistance from the

173 U.S. and others. Congress approved a U.S.-UAE bilateral agreement on peaceful nuclear cooperation pursuant to Section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act (AEA) of 1954. The then U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice signed the proposed agreement on peaceful nuclear cooperation with the UAE on January 15, 2009. Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg signed a new version of the agreement on May 21, 2009; the Obama Administration submitted the proposed agreement to Congress the same day (Blanchard & Kerr, 2010).

In 2009, highly important milestones were achieved in the country’s nascent civilian nuclear programme. Most significantly, UAE President, H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, issued a decree on 23 December 2009 that formally established the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) as the entity in charge of implementing the UAE’s nuclear programme (UAE, n.d.). In an address on the occasion of the UAE’s thirty-eighth National Day, Sheikh Khalifa explained the UAE’s approach to nuclear energy:

“Our interest in renewable energy is inseparable from our project to develop a peaceful programme of nuclear energy to meet our growing energy requirements, based on the highest standards of transparency, safety and nuclear security, in accordance with international laws, and in full cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency… The model we have adopted is consistent with our support of and conformity with the Non- Proliferation Treaty, and our rejection in principle to the existence of weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East, calling on