ABU DHABI, May 16 (Alliance News): US President Donald Trump has announced over $200 billion worth of new agreements with the United Arab Emirates during his high-profile visit to the Gulf state, marking a major leap in bilateral cooperation across aviation, energy, and artificial intelligence.
The visit, part of a broader regional tour of wealthy Gulf nations, featured a string of landmark deals including a $14.5 billion investment by Etihad Airways in Boeing aircraft powered by GE Aerospace engines.
Additionally, ExxonMobil, Occidental Petroleum, and EOG Resources are joining forces with the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company on a $60 billion expansion of oil and gas production.
One of the most strategic developments is the establishment of a US–UAE AI Acceleration Partnership, announced during the unveiling of a 5GW artificial intelligence campus — touted as the largest outside the United States.
The initiative includes a preliminary agreement allowing the UAE to import 500,000 advanced Nvidia AI chips annually, a significant shift after previous US export restrictions under former President Joe Biden’s administration.
“This is a transformative moment for our partnership,” Trump said after talks with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. “I have no doubt this relationship will only get bigger and better.”
The White House fact sheet confirmed that Trump’s visit accelerated a $1.4 trillion UAE investment pledge in the US over 10 years. Notable among these is a $4 billion aluminium smelter project by Emirates Global Aluminium in Oklahoma.
The AI agreement also mandates the UAE to invest in or build US-based data centres matching the scale of its own, while aligning its national security regulations with US standards to prevent technology diversion — especially to China.
Trump and Sheikh Mohamed also visited the iconic Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. “It is so beautiful,” Trump remarked. “They’ve closed it in honour of the United States. That’s a great tribute.”
The visit followed Trump’s earlier stop in Qatar, where he welcomed a $10 billion Qatari investment in a US military base and announced a deal for Qatar Airways to purchase up to 210 Boeing widebody jets. In Saudi Arabia, Trump secured a $600 billion investment pledge and $142 billion in arms sales.
Trump hinted at further diplomatic overtures, including a possible stop in Istanbul for talks on Ukraine and developments on lifting US sanctions on Syria.
He met Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, encouraging him to establish ties with Israel — a significant policy shift.
With sweeping AI agreements and massive investment commitments, Trump’s Gulf tour could position the Middle East as a future AI hub alongside the US and China.
