Trump in Abu Dhabi: 'The Relationship Will Only Get Bigger and Better' — $200 Billion in New UAE Deals (May 15, 2025)

President Donald Trump came to the United Arab Emirates to a $1.4 trillion investment pledge and left with $200 billion in new deals and the country’s highest honor. “I have absolutely no doubt that the relationship will only get bigger and better,” Trump told UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi on May 15, 2025, according to the transcript published by the American Presidency Project [1].

“Today in Abu Dhabi, President Donald J. Trump announced over $200 billion in commercial deals between the United States and the United Arab Emirates—bringing the total of investment agreements in the Gulf region to over $2 trillion,” the White House said [2].

The video above shows Trump with the UAE president in Abu Dhabi on May 15, 2025. Quotes are from the American Presidency Project and The Metal Packager [1][2][3].

”Born in the Same Hospital”

The UAE president opened with a story about two American missionary doctors. “Two doctors who came as missionaries from the church in California have their names etched in the collective memory of the U.A.E. They are Pat and Marian Kennedy,” he said [1].

“A few months after their arrival, Mr. President, I was born in the same hospital that these two American doctors founded,” he said [1].

He recalled a UAE flag carried to the moon on Apollo 17. “That same flag was later sent by NASA to our nation’s founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, in 1973, along with a fragment of lunar rock,” he said [1].

“Mr. President, for over 50 years, the U.A.E. and the United States have shared a multidimensional strategic partnership and a long-standing friendship grounded in a shared commitment to advancing prosperity and stability in our countries, the region, and the world,” he said [1].

He also confirmed the big number: “the U.A.E.’s plan to invest in the U.S. in these sectors, through the U.A.E.’s investment bodies, at a total value of $1.4 trillion over the next 10 years.” [1]

“That’s the Deal”

“And what they don’t know about you is that you are considered a truly great warrior, and you’ve been through the wars,” Trump told him [1].

Trump said two of the UAE president’s friends he met on the tour spoke highly of him. “And they said, ‘When he gives you a handshake, when he makes a deal, that’s the deal,’” Trump said [1].

“You can have your choice, but I know you’ll never leave my side,” Trump said [1].

“We were not such a hot country 6 months ago, and now I think we’re the hottest country, if you want to know the truth,” Trump said. “Apple is now spending much more than $500 billion on plants.” [1]

He also bragged on his record at home. “I’m very proud of Space Force, because I created Space Force. That was my baby,” Trump said [1].

“We had the highest enlistment numbers, just about, that we’ve ever had,” he said [1].

“Today I reaffirm to you that the U.A.E. remains committed to working with the United States to advance peace and stability in our region and globally,” the UAE president said [1].

He then presented Trump with the Order of Zayed, “the highest civil decoration of the United Arab Emirates,” the transcript notes [1].

The Deals

“Boeing and GE Aerospace secured a $14.5 billion commitment from Etihad Airways to invest in 28 American-made Boeing 787 and 777X aircraft powered by GE engines,” the White House said, “supporting 60,000 U.S. jobs.” [2]

“In Oklahoma, Emirates Global Aluminum will invest to develop a $4 billion primary aluminum smelter project, one of the first new aluminum smelters in America in 45 years, that will create a thousand jobs in America, strengthen critical mineral supply chains, and double current U.S. production capacity,” the fact sheet says [2].

“ExxonMobil, Occidental Petroleum, and EOG Resources are partnering with the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) for expanded oil and natural gas production valued at $60 billion,” the White House said [2].

“Holtec International and IHC Industrial Holding Company (IHC) are entering cooperation to build a fleet of Holtec’s SMR-300 small modular reactors, starting at the Palisades site in Michigan,” it said [2].

By the Numbers

• $1.4 trillion: the UAE’s 10-year U.S. investment plan, per the UAE president [1].
• $200 billion+: in new deals, per the White House [2].
• $2 trillion+: in Gulf investment agreements, per the White House [2].
• 28: Boeing jets for Etihad, per the White House [2].
• 750,000 tonnes: the Oklahoma smelter’s planned yearly output, per The Metal Packager [3].

What Happened Next

The smelter got bigger. “Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) and Century Aluminum Company have announced a joint development agreement to build the first new primary aluminium production plant in the United States since 1980,” The Metal Packager reported on Jan. 27, 2026 [3].

“The new plant, to be built in Inola, Oklahoma as previously announced by EGA, is expected to produce 750,000 tonnes of aluminium per year, larger than previously envisioned and more than doubling current U.S. production,” it reported [3].

“Our partner EGA brings world-class smelting technology and construction expertise that are fast-tracking our collective efforts to realize President Trump’s vision of rapidly increasing domestic primary aluminium production,” said Century CEO Jesse Gary [3].

For Trump in Doha the day before, see HYGO News’ page on May 14, 2025. For Trump’s speech in Riyadh, see the page on May 13, 2025.

Sources

1. The American Presidency Project: Remarks Prior to a Meeting With President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (May 15, 2025)
2. The American Presidency Project: White House Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Secures $200 Billion in New U.S.-UAE Deals and Accelerates Previously Committed $1.4 Trillion UAE Investment (May 15, 2025)
3. The Metal Packager: Century Aluminum joins EGA project to build first U.S. smelter in almost 50 Years (January 27, 2026)