 "Trump pledges stronger UAE ties, eyes AI alliance in Gulf visit")
President Donald Trump on Thursday pledged to bolster US relations with the United Arab Emirates during a visit aimed at expanding cooperation, particularly in the field of artificial intelligence.
The UAE stop marks the latest leg of Trump’s tour of Gulf nations, following his visit to Qatar where he praised Doha’s commitment to invest $10 billion in a US military facility.
“I have absolutely no doubt that the relationship will only get bigger and better,” Reuters quoted Trump as saying 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 added, 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 — the brother of President Sheikh Mohamed, the UAE’s national security adviser, and chairman of two major sovereign wealth funds based in Abu Dhabi.
“And all I can say is thank you very much,” Trump said, adding, “We will work very hard to deserve it.”
Sheikh Mohamed told Trump the UAE was “keen to continue and strengthen this friendship for the benefit of the two countries and peoples,” adding to Trump: “your presence here today, your excellency, the president, confirms that this keenness is mutual.”
Before departing for the UAE, President Trump told US troops at Al Udeid Air Base near Doha that Qatar’s newly signed defence purchases were worth $42 billion.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsIn Abu Dhabi, Trump was welcomed by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed. The two visited the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, which Trump praised as “so beautiful.”
“First time they closed it. It’s in honour of the United States. Better than in honor of me. Let’s give it to the country. That’s a great tribute,” Reuters quoted Trump as saying inside the mosque.
The UAE is seeking US support to become a global leader in artificial intelligence. A preliminary deal reported by Reuters would allow the UAE to import 500,000 Nvidia AI chips annually, starting this year — a move that would accelerate its AI infrastructure but has sparked US national security concerns.
At the presidential palace, Trump and Sheikh Mohamed met Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. A technology framework agreement between the two nations — involving mutual commitments to tech security — was expected to be signed later Thursday.
Trump said he might return to Washington on Friday but hinted at a possible stop in Istanbul for talks on Ukraine, saying his trip was “almost destination unknown.”
During his four-day Gulf tour, President Trump secured major business deals, including Qatar Airways’ purchase of up to 210 Boeing jets, a $600 billion Saudi investment pledge in the US, and $142 billion in arms sales to the kingdom.
The trip also saw a surge in diplomacy. In Qatar, Trump said the US was close to a nuclear deal with Iran, claiming Tehran had “sort of” agreed.
He also announced the lifting of US sanctions on Syria and met interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, urging him to normalize ties with Israel.
Trump’s visit underscored his push to strengthen Gulf ties and position the region —especially the UAE — as a potential third hub in global AI power, following the US and China.
This marks a shift from the Biden administration, which had tightened chip export controls over concerns they could benefit China’s military.
Comparing his approach to that of former President Joe Biden, Trump quipped about Biden’s 2022 fist bump with the Saudi crown prince, saying: “They don’t want a fist bump. They want to shake hands.”
“I shook more hands, more than any human being is capable of doing,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One.
“He travels all the way to Saudi Arabia, in that case, and he gives him a fist bump. That’s not what they want. They don’t want a fist bump. They want to shake his hand.”
With inputs from agencies
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