The Director General visited Saudi Arabia from 26 to 28 January 2013. During his visit, the Director General was briefed by the Saudi authorities on their plans to introduce nuclear power into their national energy mix, and the considerable work they have done so far in preparation for this.
During his meeting with H.R.H. Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Director General briefed the Crown Prince on the Agency's work in support of the peaceful use of nuclear energy across a number of areas. They agreed on the importance of close cooperation between the IAEA and Saudi Arabia in developing the Saudi nuclear power programme.
The Deputy Foreign Minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Abdullah, and the Director General discussed the IAEA's activities in nuclear non-proliferation, and support for a possible Nuclear-Weapons-Free Zone in the Middle East. They also considered on-going cooperation between the Agency and Saudi Arabia regarding the possible introduction of nuclear power, as well as support for cancer treatment facilities and expertise in the region.
During his visit to the King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (K.A.CARE), the Director General was briefed by K.A.CARE's President, Dr. Hashim Yamani, and Vice-President, Dr. Waleed Abdulfaraj, on the work done to establish K.A.CARE, and its work in support of the introduction of a national nuclear power programme.
The Director General also had an opportunity to visit the Mishkat Interactive Museum, established to inform the public on matters related to energy production, use and conservation. The Director General also met Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim Al-Suwaiyel and Prince Dr. Turki Al Saud, President and Vice-President of the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology.
The Director General visited the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, where he saw first-hand the impressive facilities and expertise the hospital has developed in the area of cancer treatment. The Director General praised the hospital for its efforts in assisting in the training of doctors from other countries in the region. The hospital was formally made an IAEA Collaborative Centre on 21 January 2013, during a visit by Deputy Director General for Nuclear Applications, Mr. Daud Mohamad.