Trillion-Dollar Deals: What Trump Gained from His Gulf Tour

U.S. President Donald Trump concluded his Gulf tour on Friday with unprecedented investment deals totalling trillions of dollars, alongside a high-profile gift.

The four-day tour, which began on Tuesday in Riyadh, then moved to Doha and ended in Abu Dhabi, saw Trump boast of his deal-making prowess, proudly declaring himself a “great salesman” after securing what he called “trillions of dollars.”

This first overseas trip of Trump’s second term delivered massive deals across various sectors, including defense, technology, energy, and infrastructure.

Major Deals in Saudi Arabia

Trump launched his Gulf tour in Saudi Arabia, where the first wave of his eye-catching agreements took shape across multiple sectors.

The Saudi leg of his visit included pledges of $600 billion in investments, notably featuring what the White House described as “the largest arms deal in history.”

The White House also announced that Saudi-based Data Vault would invest $20 billion in AI-related sites across the U.S., with major tech firms—including Google—committing to joint investments in both countries.

In total, 145 additional agreements exceeding $300 billion in value were signed during a U.S.–Saudi investment conference. These included a $142 billion deal to purchase military equipment and services from over a dozen American defense companies.

Other investments included an $80 billion package to develop and procure technologies involving Google, Data Vault, Oracle, Salesforce, and Uber.

The deals also covered infrastructure projects worth over $2 billion involving American firms, such as the King Salman International Airport and Qiddiya entertainment city.

High-Value Gift and Agreements in Qatar

During his stop in Qatar, Trump praised what he called a “record-breaking” deal with Qatar Airways to purchase American-made aircraft.

This agreement involves a $96 billion deal with Qatar Airways to acquire up to 210 Boeing aircraft—specifically the 787 Dreamliner and 777X models—equipped with General Electric engines.

A separate memorandum of understanding may lead to $38 billion in investments in Al Udeid Air Base and other air defense and maritime security capabilities.

Qatari firm Raban signed an agreement with Quantinuum to invest $1 billion in quantum computing technologies and workforce development in the U.S.

Raytheon secured a $1 billion agreement to provide Qatar with counter-drone systems, signed between the two governments.

General Atomics also signed a nearly $2 billion deal to supply Qatar with MQ-9B remotely piloted aircraft systems.

According to a White House statement, joint investments between the U.S. and Qatar reached approximately $243.5 billion, with plans to expand that figure to $1.2 trillion.

Qatar also presented Trump with a luxurious Boeing 747-8 aircraft worth $400 million—a move that stirred significant controversy within U.S. political circles. Many observers questioned the rationale for accepting such a gift from a foreign nation and whether it might affect presidential integrity.

Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani responded by saying the plane was “a deal between two governments, not a personal gift to Trump,” noting the offer is “still under review” by both parties.

UAE Commits $1.4 Trillion in Investments

Meanwhile, UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan praised the deepening U.S.–UAE partnership under Trump’s leadership and pledged to invest $1.4 trillion in the United States over the next decade.

Addressing bin Zayed, Trump said, “You’re a wonderful country. You’re a wealthy country,” adding, “This is your largest-ever investment, and we truly appreciate it.”

As for the deal specifics, U.S.–UAE agreements totalled $200 billion, including a $14.5 billion order from Etihad Airways for Boeing aircraft and GE Aerospace engines. ADNOC, the UAE’s state oil company, will also participate in a $60 billion project in the U.S.

Commenting on the generous commitments, Trump stated, “I have no doubt that the relationship will only grow stronger and more advanced.” He added, “Your amazing brother [Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan] visited Washington a few weeks ago and briefed us on your generous $1.4 trillion investment statement.”