GCC Civilian Nuclear Programs: Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar

Civilian nuclear energy programs across the Gulf states, covering nuclear power plant plans and procurement, agreements with foreign nuclear suppliers, fuel-cycle and enrichment questions, nuclear regulation, and the regional competition over nuclear capabilities.

Civilian nuclear programs are emerging as a consequential strand of GCC strategic autonomy and a new source of intra-Gulf competition.

Saudi Arabia's civil nuclear agreement with the US, submitted to Congress on 24 August 2026, opens a conditional pathway to domestic enrichment, while SNEHC moves into AP1000 reactor procurement and Riyadh assesses Jabal Sayid uranium and nuclear cooperation with France.

The UAE, operator of the Barakah plant, is reassessing its own nuclear bargain with Washington, preparing for a second nuclear power plant and has installed Hamad Al-Kaabi at the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR).

Qatar keeps a tightly controlled civilian option open through US and alternative partners.

This topic page tracks all three tracks, fuel-cycle and supplier strategies, regulatory leadership and the regional nuclear balance.

Essential for nuclear vendors, nonproliferation analysts and US and Asian government policy desks.