aLEX Salmond has signed a deal with a world-leading renewables company to help fund research into green energy.  During a five-day tour of Qatar and the UaE last week, he brokered an agreement with alternative energy company Masdar that will encourage university research into renewable energy sources.  Salmond met Dr Sultan ahmed al Jaber, Masdar s chief executive, during a visit to Masdar City, an experimental showcase of renewables technology.  The First Minister said:  I firmly believe this agreement will yield great results for abu Dhabi, great results for Scotland, and I do believe it will lead to significant advances that will benefit this entire planet. That s the importance of what s been talked about.  Dr al Jaber said:  Masdar is pleased to partner with Scotland on a number of upcoming renewable energy initiatives.