AI, Tech and Critical Minerals Partnerships

Economic agreements in artificial intelligence (AI) and critical resources have taken center stage during Trump’s Gulf visit. Saudi Arabia, ahead of Trump’s arrival, launched a new national AI company called HUMAIN, signalling that tech collaboration would be a priority. In fact, the U.S. administration is negotiating the export of hundreds of thousands of high-end AI chips to Gulf tech champions – including UAE’s G42 and Saudi’s HUMAIN – as part of a strategy to help regional allies build AI capabilities while creating a bulwark against Chinese influence. U.S. tech firms are jumping in as well: Nvidia’s CEO announced plans to supply HUMAIN with 18,000 cutting-edge microchips for new Saudi data centers, and Amazon’s AWS will invest $5 billion to build an “AI Zone” cloud infrastructure in the kingdom. These moves underline how Gulf nations are leveraging American technology partnerships to advance their own AI ambitions – a theme reinforced by Trump’s delegation of Silicon Valley executives accompanying him on the trip.

In parallel, the U.S. and Saudi Arabia inked agreements on critical minerals that are vital for high-tech manufacturing and defense. A notable deal is a $9 billion memorandum of understanding enabling a new Saudi firm (Grand Mines Mining LLC) to work with U.S. partners to mine and process lithium, cobalt and rare-earth elements, both in Saudi Arabia and abroad, for export to the United States. This partnership aims to secure supply chains for critical minerals outside of China, illustrating the trip’s broader goal of economic alignment in strategic industries. Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also signed a framework to broaden cooperation into sectors like space and healthcare, indicating the breadth of economic engagement being pursued.

Defense Deals and Gulf Security Cooperation

Defense and security ties form another pillar of Trump’s 2025 Middle East deals. In Riyadh, Trump announced what the White House called “the largest defense sales agreement in history” – an arms package worth $142 billion that will provide Saudi Arabia with state-of-the-art military equipment from over a dozen U.S. companies. This massive deal, which includes advanced missile defense systems, combat aircraft, and other hardware, underscores the continued importance of Gulf security partnerships for the U.S. defense industry. It also reinforces Saudi Arabia’s role as a major U.S. arms customer (the kingdom received about 12% of all U.S. weapons exports from 2020–2024). In the same spirit, Trump’s meetings in Qatar included bolstering defense cooperation – the two countries signed agreements to “boost defence and trade” ties. The President is “reviving pre-existing defense ties” even as regional tensions (for example, with Iran) persist. By coupling these security deals with new technology partnerships, Trump’s message to Gulf leaders is that American support remains robust on both strategic and economic fronts.

Qatar’s $96 Billion Boeing Deal Makes Headlines

One of the trip’s headline-grabbing outcomes came in Doha, where Qatar Airways is finalizing a colossal purchase of Boeing jets. The state-owned airline is reportedly ordering roughly 100 wide-body aircraft now and securing options for about 100 more, totaling up to 200 new Boeing 787s and 777X planes. Valued at $96 billion, this would mark Boeing’s largest-ever wide-body aircraft order and provide a major boost to the U.S. aerospace giant. Trump highlighted the deal during his Qatar visit as a win-win: it supports American manufacturing jobs while equipping Qatar’s flag carrier with a modern fleet. The agreement reflects a broader diplomatic shift as well – such a massive transaction signals strengthening ties between the U.S. and Qatar. In Trump’s own words, Qatar’s leadership is taking the bilateral relationship “to another level”. Beyond aviation, Qatar also inked multibillion-dollar commitments with the U.S. in areas like trade and defense, with the White House touting that the U.S.-Qatar agreements will generate “at least $1.2 trillion” in economic value. Together, these deals demonstrate Qatar’s strategic approach of leveraging its wealth to secure both top-tier infrastructure (like new airplanes) and strong U.S. partnerships.

Fast-Tracking Gulf Investment into the U.S.

A defining theme of Trump’s Gulf tour is attracting Gulf investment in the U.S. – and new measures are being rolled out to facilitate this capital flow. The U.S. Treasury announced a fast-track process to encourage sovereign wealth fund investments from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar. This initiative includes a special portal to pre-screen and expedite deal approvals, aiming to remove hurdles that previously slowed Gulf fund investments (such as lengthy reviews by U.S. regulators). By streamlining oversight, Washington is effectively offering Gulf investors a warmer welcome, reflecting recognition of the trillions of dollars these state-backed funds manage. According to officials, fast-track status will eliminate major barriers that Gulf sovereign wealth funds faced in recent years. For the Gulf states, which seek stable long-term returns, the U.S. is signaling that it values their capital as “strong and stable investments” from close allies.

The scale of existing Gulf wealth in America is already enormous. Saudi Arabia, for example, claims to hold over $770 billion in U.S. investments – a figure that highlights decades of financial ties. And more is on the way: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has pledged $600 billion in new U.S. investments over Trump’s current term , a sum Trump has even urged be increased to $1 trillion. The UAE, for its part, announced plans in March to deploy $1.4 trillion into U.S. trade and investments over the next decade, targeting sectors like AI, semiconductors, energy, and manufacturing. Such staggering commitments, if realized, would far eclipse previous investment flows. White House officials describe the Gulf tour as “almost entirely about business deals and investment” from these countries. By granting fast-track status and fostering personal rapport through this trip, Trump is looking to lock in those capital pledges and translate Gulf petrodollars into concrete projects on American soil. For investors, this could mean significant Gulf-backed funding driving growth in U.S. industries ranging from infrastructure and real estate to tech startups and defense contracts.

Deepening Ties and Outlook

Neutral in tone but bold in ambition, Trump’s May 2025 Middle East trip is reshaping U.S.-Gulf relations around economics. The visit reprises elements of his first presidential trip in 2017 (also to Saudi Arabia), yet with an updated focus on investment and innovation as the glue of the partnership. By the tour’s end in the UAE, Trump aimed to show that “America is back” in the region – not only as a security ally, but as a preferred business partner ready to share prosperity . Gulf leaders, flush with oil wealth and eager to diversify, have largely welcomed this message. They see opportunity in aligning with U.S. companies for their own development goals, whether building AI hubs or modernizing airlines. From a general reader’s perspective, the take-home is a series of eye-popping deals (from a $142 billion arms sale to a 210-jet order) that signal robust engagement. For investors, the implications are equally noteworthy: the Gulf investment in the US is set to accelerate, backed by special fast-track access and political will at the highest levels. In sum, Trump’s Gulf trip underscores a pivot to “commerce over chaos” – deepening economic ties as the cornerstone of revived partnerships in the Middle East. Each deal and handshake on this tour reflects a strategic bet that tighter financial and trade links will secure a more prosperous, interconnected future for both America and its Gulf allies.