President Donald Trump’s recent Middle East tour, encompassing Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, has culminated in a series of significant business deals and deepened economic ties, particularly with the United Arab Emirates. The tour, which concluded on May 16, 2025, focused heavily on securing financial commitments to boost the U.S. economy and create jobs.
Key Takeaways
- The UAE committed to a 10-year, $1.4 trillion investment framework in the U.S., focusing on AI infrastructure, semiconductors, energy, and manufacturing.
- A major AI deal was struck, allowing the UAE to purchase advanced AI semiconductors from U.S. companies, with data centers to be managed by U.S. firms.
- The UAE pledged to increase its energy investments in the U.S. to $440 billion by 2035, up from $70 billion.
- Etihad Airways committed $14.5 billion to invest in 28 American-made Boeing aircraft.
- A $2 billion investment by an Abu Dhabi-backed firm, MGX, into Binance, utilizing a cryptocurrency backed by the Trump family, raised ethical concerns.
Deepening Economic Ties with the UAE
The United Arab Emirates has emerged as a pivotal economic partner for the United States, consistently being the largest market in the Middle East and North Africa for American exports since 2009. In 2023, bilateral trade reached $31.4 billion. The UAE’s economic diversification efforts, with non-oil sectors contributing 74.3% to its GDP in 2023, have positioned it as a global investment and innovation hub. This is further supported by policy reforms allowing 100% foreign ownership in many sectors and the establishment of nearly 50 free zones.
AI and Energy: Cornerstones of Collaboration
The AI deal, a significant win for Abu Dhabi’s ambition to become a global AI hub, reflects the Trump administration’s confidence in secure chip management, partly by mandating U.S. company management of data centers. This agreement is projected to generate billions in business and accelerate the UAE’s AI development.
In the energy sector, the UAE’s commitment to significantly boost its investments in the U.S. energy sector was announced by Sultan Al Jaber, CEO of ADNOC. This includes new investments worth $60 billion in upstream oil and gas, with U.S. companies like ExxonMobil, Oxy, and EOG Resources involved in projects in the UAE.
Controversial Business Ventures
The tour also highlighted controversial business dealings involving the Trump family. An Abu Dhabi-backed firm, MGX, chaired by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE’s national security adviser, announced a $2 billion purchase of a minority stake in Binance. This transaction will utilize USD1, a stablecoin created by World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency firm with significant beneficiaries from the Trump and Witkoff families. Donald Trump serves as the company’s "chief crypto advocate," and his sons hold key roles. Critics, including Democratic senators, have raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest and the appearance of using public office for private gain, especially given the timing of relaxed restrictions on semiconductor exports to the UAE.
Broader Diplomatic Engagements
Beyond the economic focus, Trump’s tour included diplomatic shifts, such as the lifting of U.S. sanctions on Syria at Saudi Arabia’s behest, leading to an $800 million deal between the Syrian government and Dubai-based DP World for the development of Tartous port. Trump also urged Syria to establish ties with Israel and join the Abraham Accords. Furthermore, discussions with Iran regarding a nuclear deal were noted, with Trump indicating a proposal had been presented to Tehran.
Sources
- Key Business Goals for UAE Highlight Presidential Visit, U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
- Trump wraps up Gulf tour with AI and energy deals in UAE, Reuters.
- Trump and special envoy Witkoff stand to reap rewards from official business | Donald Trump, The Guardian.
- UAE-backed firm to use Trump family crypto to buy $2B stake in Binance, New York Post.
- UAE commits to $1.4 trillion US investment, White House says, Reuters.
