US president announces UAE’s $1.4 trillion investment in American AI development over the next ten years.
President Donald Trump has announced strengthened relations between the United States and the United Arab Emirates, revealing that the UAE plans to invest $1.4 trillion in the U.S. artificial intelligence sector within the next ten years.
“I am completely confident that our partnership will continue to grow and improve,” Trump stated during a meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, which marked the conclusion of his three-nation tour in the Gulf region. This journey has led to several profitable agreements in technology, business, and military sectors.
Sheikh Mohammed expressed that the UAE is still “dedicated to collaborating with the United States to promote peace and stability in our region and across the globe.”
The agreement with the UAE is anticipated to assist the Gulf nation in establishing data centers essential for creating artificial intelligence models. Specific information regarding which AI chips would be utilized in these data centers has not been disclosed. Earlier, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang was seen engaging in discussions with Sheikh Mohamed and Trump.
The AI initiative “encompasses the UAE pledging to invest in, construct, or finance U.S. data centers that match or exceed the size and capabilities of those in the UAE,” as stated by the White House.
According to Al Jazeera’s Hashem Ahelbarra, who reported from Doha in Qatar, such a deal was previously viewed as a “national security issue” for the U.S. However, the perspective changed under Trump’s administration, particularly as the UAE expressed readiness to invest $1.4 trillion.
Ahelbarra noted that this agreement marks a “major advancement” for the UAE, establishing it as “a leading entity in the realm of artificial intelligence, followed closely by Saudi Arabia.”
Before heading to the UAE, Trump delivered a speech to U.S. troops stationed at the Al Udeid Air Base, northwest of Doha, announcing that Qatar had signed defense contracts valued at $42 billion.
Additionally, during Trump’s four-day visit to the Gulf, other agreements were reached, including a contract for Qatar Airways to acquire up to 210 Boeing widebody jets, and a commitment from Saudi Arabia to invest $600 billion in the U.S. while purchasing $142 billion in U.S. military equipment.
The tour also facilitated various diplomatic discussions, with Trump mentioning in Qatar that the U.S. is nearing an agreement regarding nuclear negotiations with Iran. Furthermore, he indicated plans to lift longstanding sanctions on Syria.
Trump stated he is likely to return to Washington on Friday, although he acknowledged that his arrival would be “almost unpredictable due to potential calls asking, ‘Could you be here? Could you be there?’”
He previously suggested a possible stop in Istanbul for discussions regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict.