Former U.S. President Donald Trump has pulled off a major geopolitical and technological win during his latest tour of the Middle East, inking agreements with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Qatar totaling more than $1 trillion. These deals aren’t just about dollars—they’re reshaping the balance of power in artificial intelligence, defense, and the global technology supply chain.
At the heart of these agreements is a bold, forward-looking AI strategy. The UAE is taking the lead by building what may soon become one of the most advanced artificial intelligence campuses in the world. Located in Abu Dhabi, the project will span 10 square miles and operate with a staggering 5 gigawatts of power. This AI infrastructure—driven by G42, a state-backed Emirati tech firm—has been described by Rand Corporation analyst Lennart Heim as “larger than anything announced so far.”
But this isn’t just about infrastructure. The agreements mark a significant pivot in U.S. policy. In a strategic move, the Trump camp has agreed to roll back previous export controls that limited the UAE’s access to advanced semiconductors and AI hardware. This decision effectively unlocks the door for the Gulf nation to work with cutting-edge American tech.
To ensure that this influx of technology doesn’t stray beyond its intended path, U.S. officials have insisted on strong oversight. According to Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, American companies will manage and operate the data centers being built across the Gulf region. This setup ensures that U.S. security standards are enforced, while still giving Gulf nations access to next-gen tools.
Qatar, too, is playing an important role. Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani reaffirmed the country’s commitment to deepening its tech ties with Washington. Though Qatar and the UAE maintain economic relationships with China, this recent shift signals a rebalancing. Rather than cutting ties with Beijing, Gulf nations appear to be recalibrating their tech priorities—aligning more closely with U.S. standards in critical areas like cloud computing, semiconductor access, and national cybersecurity.
Mohammed Soliman, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, explained that this isn’t an abandonment of China, but rather a nuanced strategic alignment. “It’s about meeting U.S. expectations where it matters—compute power, cloud services, and chip supply chains,” he said.
Another key layer to these deals is their monetary structure. All investments under these agreements will be conducted in U.S. dollars—a direct countermeasure to the growing conversation around dedollarization in global markets. With this, the Trump-led negotiations are helping reinforce the dollar’s dominance in international trade, especially in regions where alternative currencies had started gaining traction.
A statement from the White House emphasized that the UAE has committed to aligning its national security frameworks more closely with those of the United States. These protections are designed to prevent unauthorized transfers of U.S.-origin technology, addressing concerns about potential misuse or redirection to rival nations.
What began as a Middle East tour is now shaping up to be a game-changing moment in U.S.–Gulf relations. Artificial intelligence, once peripheral to these alliances, has become a central pillar—alongside defense and energy. For the Gulf nations, these deals promise access to advanced infrastructure and technological autonomy. For the United States, they secure regional influence, global tech leadership, and crucially, a stronghold for the U.S. dollar in an era of monetary uncertainty.
With construction set to begin soon on the Abu Dhabi AI campus and more partnerships in the pipeline, these developments are poised to define the technological trajectory of the region for decades to come.
