Saudi-U.S. relations have recently seen a significant development with the signing by U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright and Saudi Minister of Energy His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of the Agreement on Peaceful Nuclear Cooperation, known as the “123 Agreement,” along with the accompanying bilateral safeguards agreement. The U.S. Department of Energy described this step as laying the foundation for a partnership that will span decades and be worth billions of dollars, while also allowing U.S. companies to participate in the Saudi nuclear program. For its part, the Saudi Press Agency emphasized that the agreement aims to strengthen cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, in accordance with the highest international standards for nuclear safety, security, and nonproliferation.

This agreement is the culmination of a long process of institutional development and strategic planning to advance the Saudi nuclear program. The program has evolved through gradual stages, beginning with building a scientific foundation and developing national expertise, then moving on to establishing infrastructure and regulatory institutions, completing legislative frameworks, and strengthening international partnerships, leading to the current phase, which sees the program transitioning toward actual implementation. The institutional beginnings of this journey date back to 1977, when King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology was established to serve as the national center of excellence for scientific research and advanced technologies. This direction was further strengthened by the establishment of the Atomic Energy Research Institute in 1988, which contributed to the development of national expertise and the advancement of peaceful applications of nuclear energy in the fields of nuclear safety, radiation protection, and the production of radioactive isotopes.

As Saudi Arabia transitioned from the scientific research phase to strategic planning, the establishment of King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy in 2010 marked a major turning point in the Saudi nuclear program. It was tasked with developing the peaceful uses of nuclear and renewable energy, formulating national policies, and coordinating international partnerships. This approach reflects the Kingdom’s vision of building a more diversified energy mix, in which nuclear and renewable energy play complementary roles in supporting economic development, enhancing energy security, and achieving the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, thereby contributing to a stable, low-emission electricity supply and supporting long-term industrial and economic growth.

As the program has evolved, the Kingdom has moved to complete its legislative and regulatory framework, and in 2018, the Saudi Council of Ministers approved the National Policy for the Nuclear Energy Program, which clearly affirmed that all nuclear activities in the Kingdom would be limited to peaceful uses, with full adherence to nuclear safety and security standards, nonproliferation, transparency, and the maximization of local content and knowledge transfer. The national policy also included the establishment of the Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Authority, which is responsible for regulating the sector, issuing licenses, and overseeing the application of the highest international standards, thereby laying the foundation for a modern nuclear governance system in line with global best practices.

The signing of the agreement with the United States, therefore, is a continuation of a long process of institution-building, developing national capabilities, finalizing regulatory frameworks, and strengthening international partnerships—all of which have prepared the Kingdom to move to a new phase in the development of its peaceful nuclear program. The agreement reflects the maturity of the Saudi program following years of institutional, legislative, and technical preparation, and confirms that nuclear energy has become part of a national vision aimed at diversifying the energy mix, enhancing security of supply, localizing advanced technologies, and supporting economic development. The agreement also opens broader horizons for knowledge transfer, national capacity building, and the development of nuclear energy-related industries, thereby enhancing local content and increasing the contribution of the technical and engineering sectors.

At the regional level, this agreement may present an opportunity to revitalize Gulf cooperation in the field of peaceful nuclear energy, drawing on two significant experiences in the region: first, the success of the Gulf Electricity Interconnection Project, and second, the UAE’s pioneering experience in operating the first nuclear power plant in the Arab world. This trend is gaining increasing importance as GCC countries expand their renewable energy projects, with nuclear energy serving as a complement to these initiatives by providing a stable, low-emission power supply. This integration also opens up prospects for developing a Gulf market for clean electricity, strengthening cooperation in research and development, building national capacity, and harmonizing regulatory frameworks, thereby serving as a key foundation for enhancing joint Gulf cooperation.

Note: This article has been automatically translated, the full article is available in Arabic.

Dr. Abdulla Isa AlAabbasi, Director of Energy and Environment Studies Program