U.S. President Donald Trump concluded his brief visit to Qatar on Thursday with a speech to U.S. troops at the Al Udeid Air Base, the largest American military facility in the Middle East, located southwest of Doha. His Gulf tour continues with a visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where he is expected to discuss a significant deal involving artificial intelligence (AI).
During his Gulf trip, Trump announced multiple major agreements, including Qatar Airways’ purchase of up to 210 Boeing widebody jets and a $600 billion Saudi investment commitment in the United States. He also revealed $142 billion in U.S. arms sales to Saudi Arabia.
One of the most anticipated discussions in the UAE is about a preliminary agreement allowing the country to import 500,000 of Nvidia’s advanced AI chips annually, starting this year. This deal, which could significantly bolster the UAE’s data center capacity for developing AI technology, has sparked national security concerns in the United States.
Despite the economic successes, the trip has also been marked by diplomatic engagements. Trump announced on Tuesday that the U.S. would lift longstanding sanctions on Syria, followed by a meeting with Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
Before heading to Abu Dhabi, where he is set to meet UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Trump addressed U.S. military personnel, underscoring American presence and alliances in the region.
While the AI chip deal holds great promise for the UAE’s ambition to become a global leader in artificial intelligence, it has also stirred concerns within the U.S. government, particularly regarding the potential misuse of advanced technology.