In a bold declaration of economic partnership, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced that it will invest $1.4 trillion in the United States over the next ten years. UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan announced on Thursday during a high-profile state visit by U.S. President Donald Trump to Abu Dhabi—marking the first such visit by a U.S. president since 2008.
“The UAE’s plan to invest $1.4 trillion in the United States… over the next 10 years” will span sectors such as artificial intelligence (AI), aerospace, energy, advanced industry, and critical minerals. The investment will be channeled through Emirati sovereign wealth funds and corporate entities, signaling a long-term commitment to the bilateral relationship.
President Trump, standing beside the Emirati leader, praised the UAE as a “strong partner,” adding, “I have absolutely no doubt that the relationship will only get bigger and better.”
Pivotal Moment in Gulf-US Economic Relations
Trump’s visit to the UAE marked the final stop in a three-nation Gulf tour that included Qatar and Saudi Arabia. It comes amid a flurry of high-value investment deals and defense cooperation agreements aimed at deepening U.S. engagement in the Middle East.
In a White House statement released on May 15, the administration revealed more than $200 billion in new U.S.-UAE commercial agreements, adding to what Trump described as over $2 trillion in total regional investment commitments. “President Trump continues to advance the interests of the American people, enhancing market access for American exporters to strengthen our economic and national security,” the statement noted.
Among the major deals:
- Etihad Airways committed $14.5 billion to purchase 28 Boeing aircraft powered by GE engines, supporting approximately 60,000 U.S. jobs.
- Emirates Global Aluminum announced a $4 billion investment to construct a new aluminum smelter in Oklahoma—one of the first in the U.S. in 45 years.
- U.S. energy firms including ExxonMobil, Occidental Petroleum, and EOG Resources will partner with ADNOC in a $60 billion energy expansion initiative.
- RTX, in partnership with Emirates Global Aluminum and the UAE’s Tawazun Council, is launching a gallium supply initiative to secure the U.S. critical mineral chain vital for semiconductors and defense tech—boosting supply resilience, high-tech manufacturing, and domestic job creation.
- Qualcomm will open a Global Engineering Center in Abu Dhabi through partnerships with ADIO and e&, focusing on AI, data centers, and industrial IoT. The collaboration strengthens U.S. tech leadership, drives high-skilled jobs, and advances next-gen connectivity solutions.
- Amazon Web Services, e&, and the UAE Cybersecurity Council have launched a Sovereign Cloud Launchpad, aiming to add $181 billion to the UAE’s digital economy by 2033. The project supports U.S. cloud and cybersecurity exports and reinforces U.S. leadership in secure digital infrastructure.
UAE to build largest AI campus outside US
As part of the expanding strategic cooperation, President Trump announced a groundbreaking agreement to allow the United Arab Emirates to purchase high-end American semiconductors, paving the way for the construction of the largest artificial intelligence campus outside the United States.
“Yesterday the two countries also agreed to create a path for UAE to buy some of the world’s most advanced AI semiconductors from American companies, a very big contract,” Trump said during a joint appearance with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed. “This will generate billions and billions of dollars in business and accelerate the UAE’s plans to become a really major player in artificial intelligence,” he added. Though specific chip models were not disclosed, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang—whose company dominates the AI chip market—was seen meeting with both leaders during the Abu Dhabi visit.
The AI campus, which will span a 10-mile site in Abu Dhabi, will be powered by 5 gigawatts of electricity and built by Emirati AI company G42, in partnership with multiple U.S. firms. The initiative forms part of the newly signed “US–UAE AI Acceleration Partnership”, a bilateral framework to deepen technological collaboration in emerging sectors.
The deal marks a departure from previous U.S. export controls that limited such technology transfers due to national security concerns, especially involving China. With this agreement, the UAE becomes the first country to secure bilateral access to America’s most coveted AI chip technology, a move that underscores the shifting geopolitics of artificial intelligence and positions the Gulf nation at the forefront of the global AI race.
AI and Data Infrastructure at the forefront
A centerpiece of the UAE’s investment strategy is its focus on AI and data infrastructure, underpinned by a landmark AI agreement signed during the visit.
The agreement includes the UAE’s commitment to finance or build U.S.-based data centers that match or exceed the scale of those within its own territory. These centers are deemed essential to powering next-generation AI models. Although specific chip vendors were not disclosed, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang was seen in discussions with both President Trump and Sheikh Mohammed, underscoring the depth of technological collaboration.
“This agreement includes the UAE committing to invest in, build, or finance U.S. data centres that are at least as large and as powerful as those in the UAE,” according to the White House. The accord also introduces new national security alignments—with the UAE pledging to implement U.S.-aligned export controls and safeguards on dual-use technologies.
Defining Shift in Middle East Power Dynamics
The massive investment pledge positions the UAE as a frontrunner in Middle Eastern technological development, with Al Jazeera correspondent Hashem Ahelbarra noting, “The deal is a significant step for the UAE, positioning it as the most important player in artificial intelligence, followed by Saudi Arabia.”
Notably, the Biden administration had previously viewed such deals with national security caution, particularly regarding AI technologies. However, Trump’s administration recalibrated U.S. policy to accommodate trusted investment partnerships. “But then they decided to change their mind under Trump, particularly when the UAE said that it was willing to invest $1.4 trillion,” said Ahelbarra.
Trump also announced other major regional agreements, including a $42 billion defense purchase agreement with Qatar and Saudi Arabian commitment to invest $600 billion in the U.S., including $142 billion in arms sales.
Renewed U.S.-UAE Alliance
Trump’s visit was also rich in cultural and diplomatic symbolism. He toured the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque alongside Sheikh Mohammed and Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed, reinforcing personal ties and mutual respect between the two nations.
The UAE currently holds $35 billion in U.S. foreign direct investments and was the United States’ third-largest trade surplus partner in 2024, with total bilateral trade valued at $34.4 billion.
With the foundation laid for the next decade of collaboration, the UAE-U.S. strategic alliance appears poised to enter a new era—built on shared technological ambition, defense alignment, and deep economic integration.