Latest news with #GulfVisit
Arabian Business
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Arabian Business
Saudi ministry of commerce
Eid Al Adha in the UAE, Dubai real estate analysis, Donald Trump's plans to visit the Gulf and more top news stories this week
The National
13-05-2025
- Business
- The National
Latest: Trump arrives at Saudi royal court as 'historic' Gulf tour begins
May 12: Departs Washington DC and arrives in Riyadh May 13: Meetings in Riyadh May 14: Leaves Riyadh and travels to Doha May 15: Departs Doha and travels to Abu Dhabi May 16: Leaves Abu Dhabi When it comes to governing styles, US President Donald Trump's novel approach to policymaking is one that often leaves friends and foes guessing. However, one thing that should be unsurprising is Mr Trump's decision to make the Arabian Gulf the destination for his first official overseas visit since beginning his second term in office – to the exception of his visit to Rome this week to attend the Pope's funeral. The US has abiding economic, security and diplomatic ties with the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, the three Gulf countries Mr Trump will visit next month. Regardless of the uncertainty caused by Mr Trump's trade tariffs in recent weeks, business between the US and the Emirates remains robust – according to the US government, American imports from the UAE last year were worth $7.5 billion, up 12.9 per cent from 2023. Earlier this month, US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright met senior officials in the Emirates, and bilateral investments are robust. Mr Trump set a precedent for Gulf in his first term by making Saudi Arabia his first international destination as President in his first term. US partnerships with the UAE, Bahrain and other Arab countries eventually resulted in the Abraham Accords, one of the boldest attempts yet to reset relations across the Middle East. However, Mr Trump's coming visit to the Gulf will take place amid very different and arguably more unpredictable circumstances. The war in Gaza continues and Yemen's Houthi rebels more boldly threaten Red Sea shipping. A new administration in Syria is trying to stabilise the country after the collapse of the Bashar Al Assad government in December. Another new government, this time in neighbouring Lebanon, is confronted by Israeli occupation and the challenge of rebuilding a country fractured by war and years of political inertia. Iran has embarked on a talks process with the US as Tehran's regional network of armed proxies flounders. The pace of such change makes Mr Trump's planned visit a timely one, not least because it is an opportune moment for the Gulf's voices to be heard. The UAE has been working hard to foster international peace, having recently helped to broker the largest prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine since the conflict between the two nations broke out more than three years ago. Oman has been building on its reputation as a trusted mediator in recent weeks by facilitating the US-Iran nuclear negotiations. A rare visit by a senior Saudi figure – Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman – to Iran last week highlighted the kingdom's proactive diplomacy. The Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman as well as other Arab powers, Egypt in particular, have also consistently called for a ceasefire in Gaza and provided a detailed blueprint for post-war reconstruction. Mr Trump's visit is an opportunity to turbocharge these efforts and is eagerly anticipated. Economic and business ties will feature high on the agenda, as prosperity and stability are interconnected.
The National
12-05-2025
- Politics
- The National
Trump heads to the Gulf aiming to boost trade ties and end regional conflicts
US President Donald Trump departed from the White House on Monday for a four-day visit to the Gulf, where he will aim to bolster economic ties, push for a ceasefire in Gaza and advance nuclear talks with Iran. Mr Trump pumped his fist in the air shortly before he departed from Joint Base Andrews aboard Air Force One. He will briefly stop in Suffolk, England, to refuel before landing in Riyadh early on Tuesday. 'I'm about to depart on a historic visit … to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and United Arab Emirates,' he said at a press conference. Though Mr Trump is expected to focus on securing billion-dollar investments from Gulf nations, the visit comes amid several regional and global conflicts. After a fragile ceasefire in Gaza collapsed more than two months ago, Israel has intensified its daily strikes on the coastal strip and blocked the entry of all food, medicine and other supplies, worsening the humanitarian situation in the battered territory. On Monday, US-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander, who is also an Israeli soldier, was released by Hamas, possibly setting the stage for an imminent ceasefire. 'I'm very happy to announce that Edan Alexander, an American citizen who, until recently, most thought was no longer living, thought to be dead, is going to be released in about two hours,' Mr Trump said ahead of his release, adding that he is the only living American citizen still being held by Hamas in Gaza. The war started on October 7, 2023, after Hamas attacked southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostage. Israel responded by launching a massive military campaign in Gaza, where more than 52,800 Palestinians have been killed in daily strikes and much of the territory has been laid to waste. Qatar, Mr Trump's second stop, has been mediating ceasefire efforts alongside the US and Egypt. Gulf leaders are expected to press the US President for answers on his vision for a postwar Gaza, and for clarity regarding Israel's conduct. Mr Trump is nearly four months into his second term in the White House. Last time he was president eight years ago, he also went to the Middle East on his first trip abroad. But unlike last time, he is not expected to visit Israel, drawing speculation of tension with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Last week, the Trump administration said it is working on a 'responsible' plan to ensure aid can enter without it ending up 'in the hands of terrorists'. Israel would not be involved in food distribution under the new plan. Mr Trump also wants to advance talks that would curb Iran's nuclear programme. Striking a friendlier tone than in past comments, he said Tehran was 'very reasonable' in the negotiations. 'We want Iran to be wealthy and wonderful and happy and great, but they can't have nuclear weapons, very simple,' he said. The latest round of talks concluded in Iran on Sunday, with Tehran saying discussions were 'difficult but useful'.
South China Morning Post
11-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Golf courses, skyscrapers, cryptocurrency: Trump family's Middle East business flourishes
Ahead of US President Donald Trump's Gulf visit next week, his son Eric was promoting his cryptocurrency firm in Dubai, while Don Jnr prepared to talk about 'Monetising Maga' in Doha. Advertisement Last month, the Trump Organization struck its first luxury real estate deal in Qatar, and released details of a billion-dollar skyscraper in Dubai whose flats can be bought in cryptocurrency. In a monarchical region awash with petrodollars, the list of Trump-related ventures is long and growing. However, the presidential entourage is not the only party cashing in, analysts said. 'Gulf governments likely see the presence of the Trump brand in their countries as a way to generate goodwill with the new administration,' said Robert Mogielnicki of the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington. If the president chose, he could hopscotch the region from one Trump venture to another when he visits Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates next week on the first foreign tour of his second term. Advertisement From Dubai's Trump International golf course, to a high-rise residential block in Jeddah and a US$4 billion golf and real estate project on Omani state-owned land, business links are not hard to find in the desert autocracies.
Japan Times
11-05-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
As Trump family's Gulf empire grows, rulers seek influence, arms, tech
Ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump's Gulf visit next week, his son Eric was promoting his crypto firm in Dubai, while Don Jr prepared to talk about "Monetizing MAGA" in Doha. Last month, the Trump Organization struck its first luxury real estate deal in Qatar, and released details of a billion-dollar skyscraper in Dubai whose apartments can be bought in cryptocurrency. In a monarchical region awash with petrodollars, the list of Trump-related ventures is long and growing. However, the presidential entourage is not the only party cashing in, analysts say. "Gulf governments likely see the presence of the Trump brand in their countries as a way to generate goodwill with the new administration," said Robert Mogielnicki of the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington. If the president chose, he could hopscotch the region from one Trump venture to another when he visits Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates next week on the first foreign tour of his second term. From Dubai's Trump International golf course, to a high-rise apartment block in Jeddah and a $4-billion golf and real estate project on Omani state-owned land, business links are not hard to find in the desert autocracies. At the Dubai crypto conference in April, Eric Trump and Zach Witkoff — the son of Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve — announced that Emirati fund MGX would use USD1, a cryptocurrency developed by their firm, to invest $2 billion in Binance, a crypto exchange. Political influence The original title of Donald Trump Junior's talk at this month's Qatar Economic Forum, "Monetizing MAGA: Investing in Trump's America" was later changed to the more neutral "Investing in America," cached versions show. Among such investments is the $2 billion that Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund reportedly plowed into the private equity fund of Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and former advisor. The Qatar Investment Authority and Abu Dhabi-based asset manager Lunate have also invested $1.5 billion into the fund, according to Bloomberg. The Trump Organization has been run by the president's two eldest sons, Don Jr and Eric, since his 2016 election win. While he no longer holds an executive title, Trump has retained his stake in the family business via a trust. For the Gulf states, which are trying to diversify their fossil fuel-reliant economies by attracting tourism and investment, Trump-branded, luxury-focused developments are a good fit. However, that is not the only benefit, as they spy an easy route to access and influence at the heart of the world's most powerful country, experts say. According to Hasan Alhasan, a senior fellow for Middle East Policy at the IISS think tank, signing deals with Trump beats the well-worn approach of buying U.S. weaponry. "For decades, the Gulf states' colossal weapons purchases have lined the pockets of U.S. defense companies whose PACs (political action committees) are among the largest donors to U.S. election campaigns," he said. "Catering to the Trump family's commercial interests is perhaps seen as a shorter and more effective route toward the same objective: political influence," he said. 'More than commercial plays' "In return, the Gulf states want U.S. arms, assurances and advanced technology," notably artificial intelligence, Alhasan said. One major interest for the UAE, which aims to be a leader in artificial intelligence, is securing access to advanced U.S. technologies including AI chips under restricted export. The USD1 transaction by state-owned AI fund MGX, chaired by the president's brother Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, came after he visited Washington in March and reportedly lobbied for access to the chips. Gulf dealings with the Trump Organization pale in comparison with government pledges, including the Saudi promise of $600 billion for U.S. trade and investments. The White House has said the UAE has committed to a 10-year, $1.4-trillion dollar investment framework, a figure not confirmed or denied by Abu Dhabi. Riyadh was Trump's first official visit in his inaugural term. Ahead of this trip, the United States approved a $3.5-billion sale of missiles to Saudi Arabia. "From the Gulf side, these investments are far more than just commercial plays — they are strategic transactional levers," said Middle East analyst Andreas Krieg.
