UAE President Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan gives the Order of Zayed to US President Donald Trump.

US President Donald Trump capped his two-day visit to the UAE on Friday (May 16), where he was honored with the UAE’s highest civil decoration and closed a record-breaking investment agreement. Trump’s arrival in Abu Dhabi on Thursday (May 15) was marked by a ceremonial welcome, with his presidential aircraft escorted into UAE airspace by fighter jets. Upon landing at the presidential terminal, he was warmly received by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The visit is Trump’s first official trip to the Gulf since returning to office in January, aimed at rebuilding and strengthening US ties with regional allies.

UAE to invest $1.4 trillion in US

In a major highlight of the visit, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed announced a monumental investment pledge, saying the UAE plans to invest $1.4 trillion in the United States over the next decade. “There is a strong partnership between the UAE and the United States for development,” Sheikh Mohamed said at the official reception held at Qasr Al Watan. “This partnership has gained a qualitative and unprecedented momentum, especially in the fields of the new economy, energy, advanced technology, artificial intelligence, and industry.” He added, “This is confirmed by the UAE's plan to invest $1.4 trillion in the United States in these fields over the next ten years.” According to the White House, discussions also focused on lifting Biden-era restrictions on technology exports, enhancing AI cooperation through the UAE’s AI 2031 strategy, and reviving energy partnerships. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described the trip as a “historic return to the Middle East,” emphasizing that “the President views this region as a cornerstone of global cooperation, especially in energy, security, and innovation.”

Order of Zayed awarded to Trump

During the state visit, President Trump was conferred with the Order of Zayed, the UAE’s highest civilian honor, in recognition of his efforts to bolster bilateral relations. The ornate gold medal, bearing the name of the UAE’s Founding Father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, was presented during the reception at Qasr Al Watan. The Order of Zayed is reserved for heads of state and is a symbol of deep appreciation for contributions to the UAE’s international partnerships. The medal is crafted from pure gold, adorned with precious stones, and features engravings of the UAE flag, national emblem, and historic landmarks.

Visit to Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

Earlier in the day, Trump visited the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, one of the world’s largest and most iconic mosques, where he was accompanied by Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi. The visit began with a solemn moment at the mausoleum of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, where Trump paid tribute to the late UAE Founding Father. He then toured the mosque’s marble halls and vast courtyards, receiving a briefing from the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre on the mosque’s role in promoting intercultural dialogue and religious tolerance. The tour underscored the UAE’s long-standing efforts to champion peace and coexistence through cultural understanding.

Visits to Abrahamic Family House

President Trump’s cultural itinerary also included a visit to the Abrahamic Family House on Friday (May 16). The landmark interfaith complex houses the Imam Al-Tayeb Mosque, St. Francis Church, and Moses Ben Maimon Synagogue. He was received by UAE officials including Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence; Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority; Dr. Omar Habtoor Al Derei, Chairman of the General Authority of Islamic Affairs, Endowments & Zakat; and Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and President of the Abrahamic Family House. Trump toured all three houses of worship and met with religious leaders. During the visit, he was briefed on the center’s role in advancing peaceful coexistence, mutual understanding, and community outreach through interfaith dialogue. The visit underscored the UAE's continued global leadership in promoting tolerance and human fraternity, principles that Trump praised during his meetings.

Strategic Gulf agenda

The UAE visit followed Trump’s stops in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, where he finalized arms deals, sought Saudi investments, and pushed for a new Gaza ceasefire and peace plan. His administration is also advocating for decoupling Saudi nuclear cooperation from normalization talks with Israel—a shift from previous US policy. With new deals, diplomatic gestures, and cultural exchanges, Trump’s UAE stop marked a key moment in his efforts to reestablish strong ties with the Gulf and position the US as a vital partner in the region’s future. Beyond bilateral partnerships, Trump’s agenda in the Gulf includes reviving and expanding the Abraham Accords, the historic normalization agreement between Israel and Arab states brokered during his first term. According to US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, the Trump administration is “actively working to bring Saudi Arabia into the Abraham Accords framework,” even as normalization talks had stalled under the previous US administration due to regional conflicts. Trump also held strategic talks on Saudi investments, arms deals, and a proposed ceasefire and peace plan for Gaza, signaling a shift from the Biden-era approach by separating Saudi nuclear cooperation from Israeli normalization. ICA/CAM/Expat Media
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