Wrapping up his Middle East tour, US President Donald Trump secured €179 billion ($200 billion) in investment agreements with the United Arab Emirates, headlined by plans to construct the world's largest artificial intelligence (AI) campus outside the United States.
The final leg of Trump's Gulf visit followed major deals with Saudi Arabia (€536 billion) and Qatar (€217 billion), bringing the total investment pledges during the trip to a staggering €1.3 trillion ($1.4 trillion). The tour focused on boosting US industrial and technology sectors while supporting Gulf nations' efforts to diversify their oil-dependent economies.
UAE to Host World's Largest AI Campus Outside the US
The highlight of the UAE agreements is a 10-square-mile AI mega campus in Abu Dhabi, set to be developed by UAE-based AI firm G42 in collaboration with leading US tech companies. The facility will house a 5-gigawatt data centre capacity and will accommodate American hyperscalers and major enterprises.
According to the US Department of Commerce, the campus will enhance regional computing capabilities and serve AI infrastructure needs across the Global South.
Bloomberg reports that Trump is also considering a deal allowing the UAE to import up to 500,000 of Nvidia’s advanced H100 graphics processing units (GPUs) annually through 2027, with 20% earmarked for G42. These AI chips are vital for training large language models and other high-performance computing tasks.
On the previous day, Trump secured an €71 billion ($80 billion) AI investment agreement with Saudi Arabia, helping lift U.S. tech stocks, including Nvidia.
Despite safeguards, some US officials have raised concerns about potential Chinese access to sensitive AI technologies via the Gulf states. The Department of Commerce emphasized that the UAE has committed to strict export controls and technology protection measures.
"This agreement marks a major milestone in achieving President Trump's vision for US AI leadership," said US Secretary of Commerce Howard W. Lutnick.
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, appearing alongside Trump for the announcement, hailed the deal as "a testament to the deepening AI partnership between our nations."
Major Aviation and Energy Deals
Beyond technology, the UAE deals span across aviation, energy, and heavy industry:
- Etihad Airways, the UAE's national carrier, signed a €13.1 billion ($14.5 billion) agreement with Boeing and GE Aerospace to purchase 28 widebody jets, including Boeing 787 and 777X models, powered by GE engines.
- Boeing also signed a record €89 billion ($96 billion) deal with Qatar Airways a day earlier, boosting its stock to a 52-week high. GE Aerospace shares also reached their highest point since 2001.
- In the energy sector, US companies including ExxonMobil, Occidental Petroleum, and EOG Resources inked a €54 billion ($60 billion) agreement with the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) to expand regional oil and gas production.
Additional investments will support industrial projects with Emirates Global Aluminum, focusing on aluminium smelting and gallium production.
