This handout picture released by the UAE Presidential Court shows President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (R) welcoming US President Donald Trump upon arrival at the presidential terminal in Abu Dhabi. AFP
The UAE capital is the final stop of Trump’s high-profile visit, which has already taken him to Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Throughout the tour, the US president has sought to secure multibillion-dollar deals, particularly in aviation, defence, and emerging technologies.
Trump’s arrival in Abu Dhabi comes as the UAE positions itself as a regional leader in artificial intelligence and advanced technologies, areas he is eager to tap into for American business interests.
A handout photo released by the UAE Presidential Court showed Emirati President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan greeting Trump at the presidential terminal in Abu Dhabi.
Earlier in the week, Trump hailed a $200bn deal with Qatar for Boeing aircraft and praised Saudi Arabia for pledging $600bn in investments, which include one of the largest-ever US arms sales.
However, the tour has also raised concerns back home.
Qatar’s offer of a luxury jet for Trump’s use—both for official and personal purposes—has sparked criticism from Democratic rivals, who have labelled the gesture a clear conflict of interest. Trump, however, has not shied away from seeking Gulf investment, framing the deals as vital for US job creation and economic growth.
Speaking in Riyadh earlier, Trump took aim at both Democrats and the traditional wing of his own party, which had long supported military interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“The gleaming marvels of Riyadh and Abu Dhabi were not created by the so-called ‘nation-builders’, ‘neocons’ or ‘liberal non-profits’, like those who spent trillions failing to develop Kabul and Baghdad,” Trump remarked.
“Instead, the birth of a modern Middle East has been brought about by the people of the region themselves. In the end, the so-called ‘nation-builders’ wrecked far more nations than they built.”
Trump also announced the lifting of US sanctions on Syria, a long-standing request from Riyadh following the fall of Bashar al-Assad.
In a notable meeting in Riyadh, Trump sat down with Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former Islamist guerrilla once on the US wanted list, now a businessman.
Dressed in a Western suit, al-Sharaa was described by Trump as a “young, attractive guy”. The meeting was joined by Crown Prince Mohammed and, virtually, by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, a key backer of the former Syrian rebels.
As his tour wraps up in the UAE, Trump hinted at the possibility of extending the trip to Turkey if Russian President Vladimir Putin accepts an invitation from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to hold peace talks.
While no confirmation has been given from Moscow, Trump indicated that Secretary of State Marco Rubio would travel to Istanbul regardless to support the discussions.
*This story was edited by Ahram Online.
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