ABU DHABI: US President Donald Trump has announced over $200 billion worth of deals with the United Arab Emirates during his visit to the Gulf state, including major agreements in technology, aviation, energy and artificial intelligence.
After Trump’s meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the White House said he announced deals including a $14.5 billion commitment from Etihad Airways to invest in 28 Boeing 787 and 777x aircraft powered by engines made by GE Aerospace.
The US Commerce Department said the two countries would also establish a US–UAE AI Acceleration Partnership framework. Trump and Sheikh Mohamed attended the unveiling of a new 5GW AI campus, which would be the largest outside the United States.
Sources have said the agreements will give the Gulf country expanded access to advanced artificial intelligence chips from the US after previously facing restrictions due to Washington’s concerns that China could gain access to the technology.
Trump began his visit to the UAE as part of a tour of wealthy Gulf states, after earlier welcoming a $10 billion Qatari investment in a US military facility during a stop in Doha.
“I have absolutely no doubt that the relationship will only get bigger and better,” Trump said in a meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
“Your wonderful brother came to Washington a few weeks ago and he told us about your generous statement as to the 1.4 trillion,” Trump said, referring to a UAE pledge to invest $1.4 trillion in the US over 10 years.
Trump was referring to Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Sheikh Mohamed’s brother and the UAE’s national security adviser, who also chairs two of Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth funds.
The US President was met at the airport in Abu Dhabi by Sheikh Mohamed, and the two visited the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, with its white minarets and domes glowing in the late-afternoon light.
“It is so beautiful,” Trump told reporters inside the mosque, which he said had been closed for the day.
“First time they closed it. It’s in honour of the United States. Better than in honour of me. Let’s give it to the country. That’s a great tribute.”
$200 billion in new deals
A White House fact sheet stated Trump had secured $200 billion in new US–UAE deals and had accelerated the previously pledged $1.4 trillion.
It said Emirates Global Aluminium would invest in a $4 billion primary aluminium smelter project in Oklahoma, while ExxonMobil, Occidental Petroleum, and EOG Resources were partnering with the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company in expanded oil and natural gas production valued at $60 billion.
Sheikh Mohamed told Trump that the UAE was “keen to continue and strengthen this friendship for the benefit of the two countries and peoples,” adding, “Your presence here today, your excellency, the President, confirms that this keenness is mutual.”
Before departing for the UAE, Trump addressed US troops at Al Udeid Air Base near Doha, noting that defence purchases signed by Qatar were worth $42 billion.
The UAE has been seeking US support to become a global leader in artificial intelligence.
A preliminary agreement allows the UAE to import 500,000 of Nvidia’s most advanced AI chips per year, starting this year, according to Reuters.
The deal would accelerate the UAE’s construction of data centres vital to developing AI models, though it has raised national security concerns within the US government.
The AI agreement includes a UAE commitment to invest in, build, or finance US data centres that are at least as large and powerful as those in the UAE, according to the White House.
It also includes historic commitments from the UAE to align its national security regulations with those of the United States, including strong protections to prevent the diversion of US-origin technology.
Former US President Joe Biden’s administration had imposed strict oversight on AI chip exports to the Middle East. Among Biden’s concerns was that the semiconductors might end up in China, strengthening its military.
At the UAE presidential palace, Trump and Sheikh Mohamed were seen in TV footage in conversation with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang.
Trump said he would likely return to Washington on Friday after a regional trip that began on Tuesday, although he added it was “almost destination unknown.” He hinted at a possible stop in Istanbul for talks on Ukraine.
Deals, Diplomacy
Other major business agreements were signed during Trump’s four-day tour of the Gulf, including a deal for Qatar Airways to purchase up to 210 Boeing widebody jets, a $600 billion commitment from Saudi Arabia to invest in the US, and $142 billion in US arms sales to the kingdom.
The trip has also included a wave of diplomatic developments.
In Qatar, Trump said the United States was close to securing a nuclear deal with Iran and that Tehran had “sort of” agreed to the terms.
He also announced that the US would lift longstanding sanctions on Syria and subsequently met with Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
He urged Sharaa to establish ties with Israel — Syria’s longtime rival.
Trump has made improving relations with Gulf states a central goal of his administration. If all the proposed AI chip deals — particularly with the UAE — go ahead, the Gulf region could become a third global power centre in AI, alongside the United States and China.
