During his recent tour of the Gulf region, President Donald Trump secured a series of substantial economic agreements with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, marking a significant shift in US foreign policy.
Saudi Arabia: $600 billion investment
Saudi Arabia, committed to a $600 billion investment package focusing on defence, energy, and artificial intelligence sectors. A notable component includes a $142 billion defence agreement, described by the White House as the largest in history. Additionally, the Saudi Public Investment Fund launched ‘Humain,’ an AI company aiming to position the Kingdom as a global leader in artificial intelligence. Partnerships with US tech firms, such as Nvidia and AMD, are central to this initiative, with plans to develop extensive AI infrastructure within Saudi Arabia.
Qatar: $96 billion Boeing deal
In Doha, Qatar Airways signed a record-breaking $96 billion agreement with Boeing to purchase 160 wide-body aircraft, including 130 Dreamliners and 30 777X jets. This deal is expected to support approximately 154,000 US jobs annually and represents Boeing’s largest-ever order of its kind. The agreement also includes significant defence procurements, such as counter-drone systems and unmanned aerial vehicles, further strengthening US-Qatar economic ties.
UAE: $1.4 trillion investment framework
The UAE pledged a $1.4 trillion investment over the next decade in the US economy, focusing on artificial intelligence infrastructure, semiconductors, energy, and manufacturing. This includes a partnership between OpenAI and UAE-based firm G42 to build a massive AI data centre in Abu Dhabi, named Stargate UAE, marking OpenAI’s first major international infrastructure project.
These agreements signify a strategic pivot in US foreign policy under President Trump, emphasising economic partnerships and technological collaboration over traditional diplomatic approaches.
