WASHINGTON ( CNN ) -- The United States signed an agreement Thursday on civil nuclear cooperation with the United Arab Emirates . Calling the agreement `` a powerful and timely model for the world and the region , '' Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice signed the deal , along with UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed . `` We applaud the UAE 's commission -- commitment to the highest standards of safety , security and nonproliferation in its pursuit of nuclear power , '' Rice said . Congress has to ratify the agreement before it can take effect , and congressional critics fear it could spark an arms race and proliferation in the region . The UAE 's ties to Iran also have caused concern . Under the `` 1-2-3 deal , '' similar to one the United States signed last year with India , Washington would share nuclear technology , expertise and fuel . In exchange , the UAE commits to abide by the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty and the International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards . The small oil-rich Gulf nation promises not to enrich uranium or to reprocess spent nuclear fuel to extract plutonium , which can be used to make nuclear bombs . The deal is part of a major UAE investment in nuclear energy . It has already signed deals to build several nuclear power plants . `` We are a country that is very rich in its oil and gas , but we do look forward that we have a program , a nuclear , peaceful program that could sustain our future needs , '' said bin Zayed . Rice said she hoped existing work by U.S. companies on the UAE nuclear program would be expanded under the agreement . `` We believe our technology is the best in the world , and we hope that the UAE will give that technology strong consideration , '' she said . The United States has stressed its role in global nonproliferation initiatives and has donated $ 10 million to establish an International Atomic Energy Agency international fuel bank . The U.S. has held up the UAE 's development of nuclear energy in stark contrast to Iran , which is suspected of enriching uranium for a nuclear bomb . Rep. Howard Berman , a Democrat from California , chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee , called the safeguards in the agreement `` encouraging '' but voiced concerns that Iran could take advantage of the agreement . `` This could be a significant advance in nonproliferation policy , and a model for future nuclear cooperation agreements , '' Berman said in a statement . `` However , I and many other members of Congress place a very high priority on the international effort to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapons capability and will be analyzing this and any other nuclear cooperation agreement in the context of how it implicates the attainment of that goal . '' Iran is the among the UAE 's largest trading partners . In the past , the port city of Dubai , one of the UAE 's seven emirates , has been used as a transit point for sensitive technology bound for Iran . Dubai was also one of the major hubs for the nuclear trafficking network run by Pakistani scientist A.Q . Khan . But U.S. officials said the UAE has taken major steps to improve export controls and prevent money laundering . Still , such ties contributed to stiff opposition in Congress to the failed deal for Dubai Ports World to manage U.S. ports . The U.S. already has similar agreements with Egypt and Morrocco , and U.S. officials said Washington is working on similar pacts with Saudi Arabia , Bahrain and Jordan .
U.S. Congress has to ratify the deal before it can take effect . Congressional Republicans fear it could spark an arms race and war in the region . Under the deal , the U.S. will share nuclear technology , weapons and fuel . The UAE will abide by the Nuclear Non - proliferation Treaty , other safeguards .