UAE greets Trump with drums, chanting and dancing
U.S. President Donald Trump was greeted with fanfare, drums, chants, and a military honor guard in the hallway upon his arrival at the presidential flight terminal in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Trump arrived in the Persian Gulf country after visiting Qatar and Saudi Arabia on a successful tour.
U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Thursday, the final stop on his tour of the Persian Gulf, after visiting Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
This visit marks the first time a US president has visited the UAE since 2008. The main objectives include strengthening strategic alliances, signing economic and defense agreements, and boosting cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI).
Trump was welcomed at the airport by Emirati President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. During his stay, the two leaders will discuss, among other topics, the UAE's ambition to become a world leader in artificial intelligence.
One of the most notable announcements was the preliminary agreement for the UAE to import 500,000 advanced Nvidia chips per year, a key component for developing AI models and building data centers. However, this agreement has raised concerns in some sectors of the US government due to potential national security implications, particularly the risk of technology diversion to China.
Before his arrival in Abu Dhabi, Trump visited Doha, Qatar, where he was received with great pomp and delivered a wonderful speech to US troops at Al Udeid Air Base, the largest US military installation in the region.
There, he announced that Qatar will invest $10 billion in modernizing the base over the coming years and highlighted a $42 billion military procurement package.
During his visit to Qatar, Trump also signed economic agreements worth at least $1.2 billion, including the purchase of up to 210 Boeing aircraft by Qatar Airways. In addition, Saudi Arabia's commitment to invest $600 billion in the United States and $142 billion in U.S. arms sales to Saudi Arabia were mentioned, underscoring the commercial and strategic nature of his visit.
Trump's visit was also marked by intense diplomatic activity. He unexpectedly announced the lifting of sanctions against Syria and met with Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, urging him to establish diplomatic relations with Israel.
Trump also said he could travel to Istanbul on Friday to participate in peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, if conditions are right
In terms of domestic US politics, the tour coincides with a highly significant political moment for Trump. During his Middle East tour, the US Supreme Court is evaluating the legality of his plan to eliminate birthright citizenship, sparking a debate about the limits of executive power. Additionally, Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to the Vatican to attend the inaugural Mass for Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pontiff, underscoring the current administration's international prominence.
Trump's Gulf tour has been seen as an effort to reposition the United States as an indispensable partner in defense, technology, and energy, while strengthening ties with key governments at a time of global tensions.