U.S. President Donald Trump is set to conclude his brief Gulf tour with a speech to American troops in Qatar before heading to the United Arab Emirates, where AI technology and strategic partnerships are key on the agenda. The U.S. has reached a preliminary deal allowing the UAE to import up to 500,000 Nvidia AI chips annually, fueling the country’s ambitions to become a global AI leader. However, the agreement has raised national security concerns within parts of the U.S. government.
During his four-day swing through the Gulf, Trump signed several major business deals, including Qatar Airways’ order for 210 Boeing jets and Saudi Arabia’s commitment to invest $600 billion in the U.S., alongside $142 billion in arms sales to the kingdom. Diplomatically, Trump also surprised many by announcing the removal of long-standing sanctions on Syria and meeting with the Syrian interim president.
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On Thursday, Trump will address U.S. forces at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest U.S. military installation in the Middle East, before flying to Abu Dhabi for talks with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Artificial intelligence is expected to be a central topic in these discussions.
Trump’s approach marks a shift from the previous Biden administration’s tighter controls on AI chip exports to the region, aiming to ease restrictions and bolster ties. If finalized, these deals could position the Gulf as a new hub in the global AI competition, alongside the U.S. and China.
