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President Donald Trump has praised the growing partnership between the United States and the United Arab Emirates, revealing a landmark $1.4 trillion investment commitment from the Gulf nation aimed at bolstering America’s artificial intelligence sector over the next ten years.
Speaking Thursday during a high-profile meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Trump emphasized the enduring nature of the bilateral relationship. “I have absolutely no doubt that the relationship will only get bigger and better,” he said. The meeting marked the final stop on Trump’s three-nation Gulf tour, during which he secured a series of high-value agreements across technology, defense, and commerce totaling an estimated $10 trillion.
For his part, Sheikh Mohamed affirmed the UAE’s dedication to a strategic partnership with Washington, saying, “The UAE remains committed to working with the United States to advance peace and stability in our region and globally.”
As part of the artificial intelligence agreement, the UAE will invest in, construct, or finance U.S.-based data centers with capacities equal to or greater than those currently operating in the UAE. These data centers are considered essential for training and deploying advanced AI models. While specific AI chip suppliers were not identified in the agreement, industry speculation grew after Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang was spotted in separate meetings with both Trump and Sheikh Mohamed.
According to a White House statement, the collaboration marks a significant milestone in AI infrastructure development. “The agreement includes the UAE committing to invest in, build, or finance U.S. data centers that are at least as large and as powerful as those in the UAE,” it said.
Reporting from Doha, Al Jazeera correspondent Hashem Ahelbarra noted that such a sweeping agreement would have previously raised red flags in Washington over national security concerns. “But then they decided to change their mind under Trump, particularly when the UAE said that it was willing to invest $1.4 trillion,” he remarked. Ahelbarra described the deal as a transformative development for the UAE, positioning the country as a regional AI leader, ahead even of Saudi Arabia.
Before traveling to the UAE, Trump addressed U.S. military personnel at Al Udeid Air Base near Doha, where he disclosed that Qatar had signed defense agreements worth $42 billion.
During the four-day Gulf tour, Trump also secured a major aircraft deal, with Qatar Airways agreeing to purchase up to 210 Boeing widebody jets. In addition, Saudi Arabia committed to investing $600 billion in the U.S. economy and finalized a $142 billion weapons procurement agreement.
The tour also included diplomatic overtures. Speaking in Qatar on Thursday, Trump suggested that the U.S. was nearing a breakthrough on a nuclear agreement with Iran. Earlier in the week, on Tuesday, he had announced plans to lift longstanding U.S. sanctions on Syria.
Though he indicated a return to Washington on Friday, Trump hinted that his travel plans could shift. “It’s almost destination unknown because they’ll be getting calls — ‘Could you be here? Could you be there?’” he said.
He also alluded to a possible stop in Istanbul to engage in talks concerning the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, further underscoring the tour’s expansive diplomatic scope.
