U.S. Investors Rush Into Middle East: $50+ Billion In Recent Mega-Deals

Forbes

11 hours ago

U.S. investors are making massive bets on Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Recent months have seen a flurry of billion-dollar commitments that signal a fundamental shift in how American capital views the Gulf region. "When the winds of change blow, some build walls, others build windmills." That ancient proverb captures the mindset of a new wave of American investors eyeing the Middle East
not as a geopolitical question mark, but as a global growth engine.
The Mega-Deal Wave
Here are three recent, high-profile examples of U.S. investors or firms making major deals or launching investments in Saudi Arabia:
1. Salesforce – $500 Million AI Investment
At LEAP 2025 held in Riyadh, Salesforce announced plans to invest $500 million in artificial intelligence operations in Saudi Arabia. Their investment includes launching the Hyperforce platform in partnership with AWS, deploying Agentforce via local service providers, providing Arabic-language AI support, and establishing a regional HQ in Riyadh. Part of the program also aims to train 30,000 Saudi citizens by 2030.
2. Public Investment Fund (PIF) Partnerships with U.S. Asset Managers
During President Trump's May 2025 Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum, Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund (PIF) signed MOUs worth up to $12 billion total with top U.S. asset managers. Among them:
3. American Tech Firms Working with Humain
Saudi Arabia's newly launched AI platform Humain secured partnerships with several U.S. tech companies in May 2025:
These agreements anchor U.S. semiconductor and cloud providers in the Kingdom's AI build-out. These agreements anchor U.S. semiconductor and cloud providers in the Kingdom's AI build-out and represent over $40 billion in combined commitments.
The Transformation Behind the Money
These investments aren't happening in a vacuum. They're responding to one of the most ambitious economic transformation programs in modern history.
Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, the brainchild of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, aims to pivot the Kingdom from oil dependence to a diversified economy powered by tourism, technology, and private enterprise. Flagship projects like NEOM—a $500 billion smart city stretching across the Red Sea coast—are emblematic of the scale and ambition.
Behind this push is the Public Investment Fund (PIF), Saudi Arabia's $900 billion sovereign wealth fund. Once a passive domestic investor, PIF has become one of the most influential capital allocators in the world, making bold bets in sports, tech, gaming, infrastructure, and clean energy.
Meanwhile, the UAE, anchored by Abu Dhabi and Dubai, has taken a different but equally effective approach: positioning itself as the Middle East's financial, logistics, and innovation hub. The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) and Mubadala Investment Company, with combined assets over $1.5 trillion, have not only expanded their global footprints but are actively co-investing with and backing foreign companies entering the region.
Why Now? Three Converging Forces
Three factors are drawing unprecedented U.S. capital toward the Gulf:
Capital-Rich, Partner-Hungry Ecosystems: Saudi and Emirati leaders are eager to bring in global expertise. Whether through joint ventures, incentive-laden investment zones, or direct stakes in strategic sectors, American investors who bring operating know-how, brand value, or intellectual property are welcome guests. It's not uncommon for sovereign funds to co-invest or provide capital to accelerate these ventures.
Demographics Driving Demand: The Middle East has one of the youngest populations on Earth, nearly two-thirds under the age of 35. That's translating into surging demand across education, housing, healthcare, tech, and consumer services. Investors who understand the aspirations of this next generation digitally fluent, globally ambitious, and culturally rooted can build enduring franchises.
Stability and Sovereign Ambition: While Western markets wrestle with political gridlock, rising interest rates, and regulatory unpredictability, the Gulf offers a paradoxical mix of centralized control and long-term stability. Sovereign funds think in decades, not quarters. This creates fertile ground for patient capital.
The AI and Tech Focus
What's particularly striking about these recent deals is their concentration in artificial intelligence and technology infrastructure. The Salesforce announcement, the Humain partnerships with Nvidia and AMD, and AWS's $5 billion "AI Zone" investment all point to the same conclusion: the Gulf states are positioning themselves as global AI powerhouses.
This isn't just about buying technology—it's about building entire ecosystems. Saudi Arabia's commitment to train 30,000 citizens in AI through the Salesforce partnership, combined with the massive infrastructure investments from U.S. tech giants, suggests a comprehensive approach to becoming a technology leader, not just a consumer.
What This Means for American Capital
The recent wave of commitments totaling over $50 billion when you add up the major deals—represents more than opportunistic investing. It signals a fundamental reorientation of global capital flows.
For decades, Middle Eastern oil wealth flowed West, seeking returns in established markets. Now, that dynamic is reversing. American investors, asset managers, and technology companies are flowing East, chasing growth in emerging markets backed by sovereign wealth.
The early movers such as Salesforce, Franklin Templeton, Nvidia, and Fisher Investments aren't just making financial bets. They're establishing strategic beachheads in what could become the next major global growth region.
The Bottom Line
The Middle East is no longer a frontier, it's a fast-emerging epicenter of capital, innovation, and long-term vision. The recent wave of billion-dollar commitments from America's most sophisticated investors proves that the Gulf has moved from the periphery to the center of global investment strategy.
For American capital, the question is no longer if to engage with the Gulf but how to do so successfully. The window for early-mover advantage remains open, but it won't stay that way forever.
Next week: The five principles every U.S. investor needs to master before entering Middle East markets—and the sectors offering the biggest opportunities.