President Donald Trump helped broker commercial agreements exceeding $200 billion between the United States and the United Arab Emirates during his landmark visit to the Middle East, according to a White House announcement on Thursday.
One major outcome was a $14.5 billion pledge by Etihad Airways to purchase 28 aircraft manufactured in the U.S. by Boeing and GE Aerospace.
Emirates Global Aluminum is planning a $4 billion investment in a new primary aluminum smelter in Oklahoma. Additionally, Holtec International and IHC Industrial Holding Company have agreed to collaborate on the development of small modular nuclear reactors in Michigan, as reported by Fox Business.
Qualcomm is establishing a global engineering hub in Abu Dhabi that will “focus on AI, data centers, and industrial [internet of things],” the White House announced.
“RTX is [also] partnering with Emirates Global Aluminum and the UAE’s Tawazun Council on a pioneering Gallium project that will help secure and stabilize the United States’ critical mineral supply chain,” reads a White House memo outlining the deals.
“By diversifying sources of this essential input for semiconductors and defense technologies, the partnership strengthens America’s supply security, supports high-tech manufacturing, and creates jobs across the U.S. critical minerals and defense industrial base.”
After his discussion with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Trump expressed optimism that the partnership between the U.S. and the UAE will continue to grow and strengthen.
“Your wonderful brother came to Washington a few weeks ago and he told us about your generous statement as to the 1.4 trillion,” the president said in reference to a pledge from the UAE to invest $1.4 trillion in the United States over 10 years.
“And all I can say is thank you very much,” Trump added. “We will work very hard to deserve it.”
The UAE’s new investment commitments follow a similar announcement from Qatar, which pledged $1.2 trillion in U.S. investments over the coming decade.
Included in that agreement is a major procurement by Qatar Airways, which plans to acquire $96 billion worth of 210 Boeing 787 Dreamliner and 777X aircraft powered by GE Aerospace engines. An additional $38 billion in potential U.S.-made defense acquisitions is also outlined to enhance Qatar’s Al Udeid Air Base and support broader maritime security efforts.
“This historic agreement will support 154,000 U.S. jobs annually, totaling over 1 million jobs in the United States during the course of production and delivery of this deal,” a White House overview of the deal states.
