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UAE President meets Donald Trump during US visit

During the meeting, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan highlighted the long-standing ties between the UAE and the US

by Gareth van Zyl

September 27, 2024

Credit: WAM

President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the UAE met with former US President Donald Trump on Thursday as part of his official visit to the United States.

During the meeting, Sheikh Mohamed highlighted the long-standing ties between the UAE and the US, which have been in existence for over 50 years.

Sheikh Mohamed further acknowledged Trump’s role in strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries during his time in office, according to a statement from news agency WAM. Trump is currently the Republican candidate in the running for the US Presidential election happening later this year.

Earlier in the week, Sheikh Mohamed met with US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo in Washington. They discussed expanding economic collaboration, particularly in the technology and AI sectors, and reviewed recent investments by UAE companies such as MGX in the US.

UAE President and US President Joe Biden

The visit, which began on Monday, is Sheikh Mohamed’s first official trip to the US as president. He has already met with President Joe Biden at the White House, marking their fourth bilateral meeting during the Biden-Harris administration. The leaders reaffirmed the strong US-UAE strategic and defence partnership and explored new opportunities for cooperation in areas like technology, renewable energy, and investments.

President Sheikh Mohamed affirms UAE-US alliance — UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan meeting with US President Joe Biden earlier in the week. (Credit: Getty Images)

Bilateral trade between the UAE and the US reached $31.4bn in 2023, with the US exporting $24.8bn in goods and services to the UAE, a 19 per cent increase from 2022. The trade surplus for the US amounted to $18.3bn, the fourth largest globally.

The UAE’s investments in the US, which exceed $1tn, support 166,000 American jobs and cover sectors such as real estate, technology, and renewable energy. During this visit, Sheikh Mohamed has continued to push for deeper economic ties, with renewable energy and technological collaboration at the forefront of discussions.