DUBAI — The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will launch the China-Arab Center for Technology Transfer under a deal signed Saturday, the state-run news agency WAM reported.

The memorandum of understanding was signed between the Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park (SCTR) and the China-Arab Technology Transfer Company, the report said.

Hussein Al-Mahmoudi, CEO of the SCTR, and Louis Zhang, founder and CEO of the China-Arab Technology Transfer Company, attended the signing ceremony.

The center aims to boost the partnership between UAE research institutions and Chinese companies.

It will also turn the SCTR into a regional platform for Chinese companies in the areas of water technology, renewable energy, environment technology and more.

Zhang lauded the Sharjah research park for its contribution "to the promotion of innovation and entrepreneurship, typically for incubating projects, supporting innovation and encouraging startups."

He expressed the hope that the planned center will achieve the desired goal of promoting joint innovation, as well as knowledge and technology transfer between China and the Arab region.