The agreement was signed by Sergei Kiriyenko, head of the Russian nuclear corporation Rosatom, and UAE Deputy Energy Minister Mohammed bin Zain al-Hamli.

“This is a comprehensive agreement encompassing cooperation in all areas of nuclear energy, including uranium mining and processing, fuel production, research and building nuclear power plants,” Kiriyenko said.

It lays the legal groundwork for technology transfers and the delivery of nuclear materials to the energy sector.

This past July the UAE authorities announced the launch of a program to build the country’s first nuclear reaction, which should be put into operation in 2017. In all, the UAE is planning to build four nuclear reactors 1.4 MW each.