Trump set to arrive in UAE promising 'new era in collaboration'

US President Donald Trump's visit to the UAE has been widely hailed by Emirati and American business leaders as a pivotal moment in strengthening strategic partnerships between the two nations.

Danny Sebright, President of the US-UAE Business Council, described the visit as a defining milestone that opens a new era of cross-border collaboration, especially in areas such as AI, advanced technologies, energy and defence.

He noted that UAE investments in the US have exceeded $1 trillion, spanning landmark projects in AI infrastructure, clean energy and manufacturing. Among these is a massive partnership between UAE-based MGX, Microsoft, and xAI to build out advanced AI infrastructure in the US, under a project renamed "AI Infrastructure Partnership," with an anticipated $100 billion in investments and the creation of 20,000 jobs.

He also referenced ADQ’s $25 billion agreement with Energy Capital Partners to power US data centres, ADNOC’s growing portfolio in low-carbon energy and natural gas infrastructure in partnership with ExxonMobil and OMV, and Emirates Global Aluminium’s plan to establish the first new aluminum smelter in the US in over three decades.

Sebright emphasised that these investments reflect a long-standing, trusted economic partnership. Other strategic ventures include Masdar’s clean energy projects across multiple US states, and Mubadala’s pivotal investment in GlobalFoundries, creating over 18,000 direct and indirect jobs in New York State alone.

Humaid Mohamed Ben Salem, Secretary-General of the Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FCCI), stated that Trump's visit provides significant momentum to joint investment opportunities, particularly in critical sectors, including AI, space, renewable energy, healthcare, and advanced technology. He highlighted that the UAE is already home to over 1,800 American companies and that this number is expected to rise in light of the visit’s positive impact.

In the field of nuclear energy, Mohamed Al Hammadi, Managing Director and CEO of the Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC), underscored the UAE’s collaboration with major US nuclear technology firms as a global model for responsible and peaceful nuclear development.

Al Hammadi explained that ENEC is actively investing in next-generation nuclear technologies and microreactors through partnerships with companies such as TerraPower, Westinghouse, and X-energy. These efforts are part of the ENEC ADVANCE Programme, launched in 2023 and are aimed at advancing nuclear capabilities both within the UAE and abroad—including in the United States, where the clean energy sector is witnessing robust growth.