Trade

Donald Trump will visit Gulf nations in May

April 23, 2025, 9:52 AM

GCC officials are expected to push for better access to advanced US semiconductors and AI tech during Donald Trump's visit to the Gulf

Trip takes in KSA, UAE and Qatar
Follows visit by US energy secretary
Investment in US high on agenda

US President Donald Trump will visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates from May 13 to 16, the White House has confirmed.

The highly anticipated visit to the Gulf region will mark Trump’s second foreign trip of his second term, as he will first travel to Rome this week for Pope Francis’ funeral.

“The President looks to strengthen the ties between the United States and these countries which he will be visiting,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said during a press briefing. “He’ll be having many bilateral meetings and talks.”

The trip comes as global markets were roiled by Trump’s wide-ranging and volatile yielding of tariffs against allies and adversaries alike to redress what he claims are unfair trade imbalances.

A universal levy of 10 percent on all imports into the US regardless of origin – including from the three largest GCC economies – is currently in effect, while higher, individual country tariffs have been paused until July.

Separate sectoral tariffs of 25 percent on steel and aluminium are also effective, with ramifications for countries like Turkey and Bahrain, as well as a full-on trade war with China that is impacting the world’s economy.

During his trip to the region next month, the US president is expected to seek new Gulf investment in the US while GCC officials push to increase their nations’ access to advanced US semiconductors and artificial intelligence.

Trump may also look to advance high-stakes negotiations over the Israel-Gaza war, Iran’s nuclear programme and the Russia-Ukraine conflict – all of which have seen regional actors deeply involved on the diplomatic front.

The UAE and Saudi Arabia have already pledged to pour a combined $2 trillion into the US over the next decade, but Trump has suggested he is looking for even more commitments.

That might include $1 trillion from the kingdom alone in just four years, up from the already unlikely $600 billion that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman promised him in January.

US energy secretary Chris Wright just toured the same three Gulf countries that Trump will be visiting in mid-May to prepare the groundwork for a successful presidential visit.

During his stop in Saudi Arabia, Wright said the US and the kingdom are on a “pathway” towards co-developing a Saudi civilian nuclear programme.