Saudi Arabia, US on ‘pathway' to civil nuclear agreement
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright.- Getty Images
The United States and Saudi Arabia will sign a preliminary agreement to cooperate over the country's ambitions to develop a civil nuclear industry, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright told reporters in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Sunday.
Read-
Wright, who had met with Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman earlier on Sunday, said Riyadh and Washington were on a 'a pathway' to reaching an agreement to work together to develop a Saudi civil nuclear programme.
Wright, on his first visit to the kingdom as secretary as part of tour of energy-producing Gulf states, said further details over a memorandum detailing the energy cooperation between Riyadh and Washington would come later this year.
'For a US partnership and involvement in nuclear here, there will definitely be a 123 agreement … there's lots of ways to structure a deal that will accomplish both the Saudi objectives and the American objectives,' he said.
A so-called 123 agreement with Riyadh refers to Section 123 of the US Atomic Energy Act of 1954 and is required to permit the US government and American companies to work with entities in the country to develop a civil nuclear industry.
Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil exporter, is seeking to generate substantial renewable energy and reduce emissions, under the crown prince's Vision 2030 reform plan. At least some of this is expected to come from nuclear energy.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Khaleej Times
5 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
UAE's large scale projects signal ambition towards a sustainable economy
The UAE remains buoyant and forward-thinking, with large-scale transformation initiatives signaling the government ambition to create a sustainable economy for citizens and visitors alike, an industry veteran said. 'The UAE's government is strategically deploying investment into sectors that promise long-term value creation, including infrastructure, tourism, clean energy, digital innovation, and advanced logistics — all of which are catalysts for sustainable economic growth,' Phil Malem, CEO Serco Middle East and +impact, said in an interview. In the UAE, non-oil GDP is being buoyed by increased private sector participation and a push toward becoming a global hub for innovation, trade and talent, he added. It is also noteworthy to look at Saudi Arabia, a country which is in the midst of one of the most ambitious economic diversification programmes in the world under Vision 2030. 'Projects like NEOM, Qiddiya, and the Red Sea Development are not just infrastructure investments; they represent a new economic model based on knowledge, creativity, and future-ready service ecosystems. These megaprojects demand not only advanced service delivery models but also strategic advisory capabilities, and partners who can think, design, and operate at scale. This is where our value proposition is strongest: in delivering outsourced services that are deeply integrated, culturally aligned, and capable of flexing across both the operational and advisory spectrum,' Malem said. Serco has a long established record in the aviation sector, and Malem believes that Dubai's announcement to fully transition airport operations to Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) over the next decade marks a pivotal moment in the future of global aviation. 'DWC is not just an airport expansion, it is the foundation of a new aviation ecosystem for the UAE. With a projected capacity of 260 million passengers annually, this is a bold redefinition of what global connectivity, passenger experience, and aviation infrastructure can look like. It will reshape air traffic flows, logistics strategies, and the entire passenger journey across the region,' Malem said. For us at Serco, this is a natural alignment with its capabilities and legacy. 'We have long been embedded in the region's aviation sector (supporting Dubai Airports and Sharjah Airport with multiple different services), from managing complex air traffic control operations to delivering end-to-end airport and passenger services. The DWC transformation presents an opportunity to rethink how airports are operated: how data, automation, and talent can be optimised to meet evolving passenger needs, safety standards, and sustainability goals. It also reinforces the need for a highly skilled, locally grounded workforce, which is why our investments in nationalisation, such as training Emirati air traffic controllers and operational leaders, will continue to scale in line with the country's ambitions,' Malem said. Public-private collaboration remains fundamental to the success of national transformation agendas in the region, the Serco Middle East CEO said. 'Given that many of the region's largest organisations are government-owned or backed, the ability of private sector partners to operate in true alignment with public sector goals is what determines long-term impact. Governments are not just looking for service providers, they are looking for partners who understand the national vision, share their values, and bring both global expertise and local commitment to the table. This is particularly critical in sectors like aviation, transport, defence, and citizen services, where the outcomes affect millions of lives and require long-term strategic thinking,' Malem said. Serco has invested significantly in building a pipeline of local talent, not through box-ticking, but through structured programmes that upskill, train, and provide meaningful, international-standard experience to Emirati and Saudi nationals. 'Collaboration, when built on trust and mutual purpose, becomes a multiplier. It allows us to move faster, operate smarter, and create shared outcomes. In this region, where ambition is high and transformation is constant, public-private partnerships, grounded in capability and integrity, are the engine that will power sustainable progress,' Malem said. As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly part of our day-to-day lives, the expectations around customer experience are evolving at an unprecedented pace. 'For companies operating in the UAE and across the GCC, the challenge is twofold: how do you harness cutting-edge technology like AI, while maintaining the empathy and understanding that truly great experiences are built on? I believe the answer lies in blending technological innovation with human insight, which is exactly what we've set out to do through our recently launched company, +impact, Serco's advisory business,' Malem said. Through +impact, Serco is focused on delivering measurable, purpose-driven outcomes. 'One of our core services at +impact is advisory within the customer experience space, and we bring deep expertise in behavioural insight, service design, and user experience, enabling us to map real customer journeys and design solutions that anticipate needs - not just respond to them. It allows us to embed empathy and innovation directly into service delivery, creating experiences that build trust, satisfaction, and long-term loyalty,' Malem said. But AI alone isn't enough. It must be paired with strong human understanding and strategic advisory capability. 'This is where I see this convergence of AI, data, design, and operational excellence as the future of service delivery. We are proud to make an impact across governments and organisations across the region as they lead the way in defining what exceptional, human-centred experiences look like in the digital age,' Malem said.
Tourism Breaking News
9 hours ago
- Tourism Breaking News
China extends visa-free entry to four GCC countries
Post Views: 35 China has launched a trial policy granting unilateral visa-free entry to citizens of Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain, expanding its visa-free access list to 47 countries, as per the recent report. Effective until June 8, 2026, the policy allows ordinary passport holders from these four Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to enter China visa-free for up to 30 days for business, tourism, family visits, cultural exchange, and transit. The policy has been warmly received across the Gulf region and is expected to enhance bilateral exchanges, strengthen cultural and people-to-people ties, and drive broader cooperation between China and the GCC. Currently, around 20 direct flights operate weekly between key Chinese cities—including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen—and Saudi cities like Riyadh and Jeddah. The UAE is connected to 13 cities across mainland China through direct flights. This expansion marks a significant step in building economic and cultural relations between China and the Gulf states.
Al Etihad
11 hours ago
- Al Etihad
Visa-free access extended to 4 more Gulf countries by China
10 June 2025 15:26 BEIJING (Xinhua)China this week launched a trial policy that grants unilateral visa-free entry to citizens of Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain, expanding its unilateral visa-free access list to 47 the policy, which will remain in effect through June 8, 2026, holders of ordinary passports from these four countries can enter China without a visa for up to 30 days for purposes such as business, tourism, family visits, cultural exchange, and the United Arab Emirates and Qatar have established reciprocal visa-free arrangements with China since 2018, which means all six member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) now enjoy visa-free access to expansion has been warmly welcomed across the Gulf region and is expected to boost bilateral exchanges, strengthen cultural and people-to-people ties, and inject new momentum into broader China-GCC a statement posted on platform X following China's announcement in late May, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the move would "contribute to encouraging mutual visits and deepening the bonds of friendship between the two friendly peoples."Naif Awlia, director of tourism and engagement at Saudi tourism developer Diriyah Company, also hailed the policy as a positive step forward. "Friendly ties are the foundation of long-term cooperation, and we look forward to deepening our partnership with China," he Travel, one of the largest travel companies in the Gulf region and an early mover in promoting outbound tourism to China, has launched new travel packages since the announcement, targeting residents of the UAE, Bahrain, and Saudi and Gulf countries already enjoy strong air travel connectivity, and the new visa-free policy is anticipated to further boost travel about 20 direct flights operate weekly between major Chinese cities -- including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen -- and Saudi destinations such as Riyadh and Jeddah. The UAE is connected to 13 cities across the Chinese mainland with direct ahead, Chinese carrier Hainan Airlines plans to launch a direct Haikou-Jeddah route on June 28, while UAE carrier Emirates will begin daily nonstop service between Dubai and Shenzhen on July say the new policy reflects the growing political, economic, and cultural ties between China and the Gulf region. In 2024, trade between China and GCC countries reached $288.09 billion, making the GCC China's sixth-largest trading latest step underscores China's continued push to open its doors wider to global visitors, in line with its commitment to high-level late 2023, China has introduced a series of traveler-friendly policies. Starting June 1, holders of ordinary passports from Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay are eligible for unilateral visa-free entry -- the first time such access has been extended to Latin American and Caribbean the visa-free transit period has been extended to 240 hours for travelers from 54 initiatives have already had a noticeable impact. In 2024, China recorded 3.39 million entries under its unilateral visa-free policy, a year-on-year surge of 1,200 percent. During the recent three-day Dragon Boat Festival holiday, 231,000 foreigners entered China without a visa, up 59.4 percent from a year earlier. Dai Bin, president of the China Tourism Academy, said foreign travelers come not only to visit China's landscapes and cities but also to experience everyday life. "These visits offer opportunities to discover the real China," he said.
