Abu Dhabi: On a high-profile visit to the United Arab Emirates, President Donald Trump unveiled a landmark package of economic and technology agreements with the Gulf nation, signaling a significant boost in U.S.-UAE relations. The newly announced deals, exceeding $200 billion, include major investments in aviation, energy, and artificial intelligence.
Trump met with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi, where both leaders emphasized their shared commitment to strengthening bilateral ties. Among the standout agreements was a $14.5 billion deal from Etihad Airways to purchase 28 Boeing 787 and 777x aircraft equipped with GE Aerospace engines.
Another key development was the establishment of a "US-UAE AI Acceleration Partnership," a framework that paves the way for closer cooperation in advanced technology. The two leaders inaugurated a new 5GW artificial intelligence campus in the UAE, set to become the largest outside the United States.
According to reports, the U.S. will begin allowing the UAE to import up to 500,000 of Nvidia’s high-end AI chips annually—a notable shift after previous export restrictions were imposed amid fears of Chinese access to U.S. technology. In exchange, the UAE has agreed to align its national security standards more closely with those of Washington and invest in U.S. data center infrastructure.
Trump praised the UAE’s long-term economic vision, referencing a prior Emirati pledge of $1.4 trillion in U.S. investments over the next decade. “I’m certain our relationship will continue to expand,” Trump stated during the meeting.
Business cooperation was a major focus of the visit. The White House announced that Emirates Global Aluminum will develop a $4 billion aluminum smelting facility in Oklahoma, while oil majors ExxonMobil, Occidental Petroleum, and EOG Resources will work alongside the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company in a $60 billion energy production initiative.
Trump’s visit to the UAE is part of a broader tour of the Gulf, following recent stops in Qatar and Saudi Arabia. In Doha, Qatar committed $10 billion to expand a U.S. military base and signed $42 billion in defense purchases. Saudi Arabia pledged a massive $600 billion investment in the U.S. and agreed to $142 billion in arms deals.
Diplomatic efforts were also on display. Trump revealed that a new nuclear agreement with Iran was nearing completion and that Tehran had tentatively accepted U.S. terms. He also announced the lifting of U.S. sanctions on Syria, after meeting with interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and encouraging him to normalize relations with Israel.
The president hinted at a possible unannounced visit to Istanbul for discussions on the Ukraine conflict before returning to Washington. His engagements in the Gulf reflect a broader strategy to position key regional allies—especially the UAE—as major players in the global AI landscape, alongside the U.S. and China.
Trump’s visit concluded with a symbolic gesture as Sheikh Mohamed welcomed him to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, which was closed to the public in Trump’s honor. “That’s a great tribute—to the United States,” he told reporters.
