Trump unveils $200B UAE investment deals

During his Persian Gulf tour, President Donald Trump visited the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where he announced a series of agreements valued at over $200 billion, significantly enhancing U.S.- Persian Gulf economic relations. This visit follows a pledge made by the UAE in March to invest approximately $1.4 trillion in the U.S. over the next decade. In a meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Trump expressed gratitude for the investment, stating, "We will work very hard to deserve it."

Among the key deals announced was a substantial order from Etihad Airways for 28 Boeing 787 and 777X aircraft, valued at $14.5 billion. This order came on the heels of Boeing's largest-ever order for widebody jets, which was finalized during Trump's previous visit to Qatar. Additionally, Trump unveiled plans for the largest AI campus outside the U.S. to be built in Abu Dhabi, part of the newly established "US-UAE AI Acceleration Partnership," which aims to enhance AI infrastructure and innovation in the region. The deal is expected to provide the UAE with expanded access to AI chips from Nvidia.

Other agreements included a partnership between U.S. and UAE oil firms to boost oil and gas production, valued at $60 billion. However, Trump's visit was not without controversy, as U.S. lawmakers, including Bernie Sanders, sought to block further arms sales to the UAE due to allegations of its involvement in Sudan's civil war.

The visit also featured symbolic gestures of goodwill, such as illuminating the Burj Khalifa with the American flag and Trump's visit to the Abrahamic Family House, an interfaith complex in Abu Dhabi. These developments highlight the deepening partnership between the U.S. and the UAE, focusing on technological advancement and economic collaboration.