Trump Concludes Qatar Visit, Heads to UAE to Bolster Gulf AI Aspiration

Key Points:

Preliminary Chip Deal: U.S. and UAE reach a tentative agreement for importing Nvidia’s advanced AI chips.

Gulf AI Goals: UAE aims to become a global hub for artificial intelligence, targeting a top-three position worldwide.

Business Accords: Trump’s Gulf tour includes major deals in aviation, arms sales, and investment commitments.

Troop Visit and Diplomacy: Trump addresses U.S. troops in Qatar and engages in regional diplomacy, including Syria-related discussions.

DOHA, May 15 (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump is wrapping up a brief visit to Qatar, where he will address American troops stationed at Al Udeid Air Base before flying to the UAE. This trip underscores the Gulf region’s ambitions to become a leading global player in artificial intelligence, with the UAE seeking U.S. support.

A preliminary agreement between the U.S. and UAE would allow the Gulf nation to import up to 500,000 of Nvidia’s cutting-edge AI chips annually. These chips are critical for powering data centers that develop AI models. However, the deal has raised national security concerns within the U.S. government, and its terms may still change, according to sources.

Trump’s four-day Gulf tour has also seen significant business agreements. Qatar Airways finalized a deal to acquire up to 210 Boeing widebody aircraft, Saudi Arabia pledged $600 billion in U.S. investments, and arms sales to the kingdom reached $142 billion. The president also made waves diplomatically by announcing the lifting of U.S. sanctions on Syria and meeting with Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa.

After his troop address, Trump will meet with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi to discuss the Gulf nation’s AI ambitions and other bilateral priorities. The UAE envisions itself as a third global hub for AI, joining the U.S. and China in shaping the industry’s future.

This AI-focused collaboration reflects a shift from former President Joe Biden’s stricter export policies, which sought to prevent U.S. semiconductors from potentially benefiting China’s military capabilities.

Trump has positioned Gulf relations as a cornerstone of his administration’s foreign policy. While a potential visit to Turkey for Russia-Ukraine talks had been floated, a U.S. official confirmed that this stop would not occur.