ABU DHABI – President Donald Trump’s historic first presidential visit to the UAE is the most substantial US-Gulf diplomatic outreach in 17 years, with a busy itinerary aimed at securing economic bonds and highlighting Emirati aspirations. Marine One has been seen doing practice landings at prime sites before today’s arrival.
Trump’s Power Stops
1. Qasr Al Watan (Day 1 Morning)
• Signing Ceremony: $6B AI collaboration between Mubadala and US technology companies
• Closed-Door Talks: With Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed on Iran and oil production
2. Masdar City (Day 1 Afternoon)
• Demo: Riding in the first UAE-built autonomous car
• Announcement: New US-UAE renewable energy fund
3. Emirates Palace (Evening)
• State Banquet: Gold-leaf menu with 1,200 VIPs (Trump’s steak will be flown in from Trump Hotel DC)
4. Private Dinner at Saadiyat Island (Night)
• Guests: Best US CEOs and Emirati sovereign wealth fund managers
• Agenda: Sealing defense tech transfers
5. Louvre Abu Dhabi (Day 2 Morning)
• Symbolic Stop: Seeing da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi (purchased by UAE for $450M)
• Subtext: Art diplomacy in the face of trade tensions
Why This Visit Matters:
– First sitting US president to visit since George W. Bush in 2008
– Arrives just days after UAE inked $23.5B F-35 deal
– Probes UAE’s balancing act between the US and China
