At an annual meeting in Riyadh last December, leaders of six oil-rich nations, party to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), announced their plans to develop a joint civilian nuclear program in compliance with international rules.
"From the time of making the decision, you need 12-15 years to complete a nuclear facility," Sheikh Mohammad Al-Sabah said, citing legal, legislative, and security requirements and more than 15 international treaties.
Kuwait has drafted a roadmap plan to implement the program, which will be presented to a GCC consultative summit in Riyadh in mid-May. The GCC includes Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman.
The head of the UN nuclear watchdog, Mohamed ElBaradei, said in mid-April that the GCC countries had "the natural right" to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes like the 150 nations already using atomic power.