The United States and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have a strong, multifaceted relationship, as reflected in our robust commercial, economic, and security ties. The U.S.-UAE Strategic Energy Dialogue (Dialogue) advances this important bilateral relationship with a technical forum that enables structured and consistent engagement on energy issues and technologies. Recently the Dialogue has focused cooperation in on fossil fuels - including carbon capture utilization and storage, civil nuclear, energy efficiency, and renewable energy.  

The U.S.-UAE Strategic Energy Dialogue was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Energy and UAE’s Ministry of Energy in Washington, DC in September 2014.  DOE's Office of International Affairs convenes the Dialogue annually in order to advance collaboration in a number of areas, including sharing data on water desalination using clean energy technologies; advancing workforce development, education, and clean energy technology demonstration through the first Solar Decathlon Middle East; building capabilities on industrial efficiency; sharing best practices on carbon capture utilization and storage for uses including enhanced oil recovery; and training and capacity building related to nuclear power plant safety and security. 

In January 2017, the UAE launched its Energy Strategy 2050 calling for an energy mix of 44 percent renewable energy, 6 percent nuclear, 38 percent natural gas, and 12 percent super-critical clean coal. The UAE is home to the world’s sixth-largest oil reserves and seventh-largest gas reserves and U.S. companies have been important long-term partners in developing UAE oilfields. The UAE is developing a peaceful nuclear power program that is often hailed as a model for the region with its first (of four) nuclear powers plants in development and scheduled to come online in 2018. U.S. companies are integral partners in the reactors’ construction and operation activities. 

Secretary Perry led a Strategic Energy Dialogue with Minister Mazrouei in AbuDhabi in December 2017 and cooperative initiatives are ongoing.