President Donald Trump said on Friday the UAE and the US had agreed to create a path for the GCC country to buy some of the most advanced artificial intelligence semiconductors from US companies, a major win for Abu Dhabi’s efforts to become a global AI hub.

Trump also wrapped his Gulf tour of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE with a pledge by Abu Dhabi – the UAE‘s capital and richest emirate – to hike the value of its energy investments in the US to $440bn in the next decade.

He pledged on Thursday to strengthen US ties with the UAE, announcing deals totalling over $200 billion, including a $14.5bn commitment from Etihad Airways to invest in 28 American-made Boeing aircraft.

“We work together and the money that’s made here comes back to us,” Trump told Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed during a press conference in Abu Dhabi, touting the business relationship between the US and UAE.

“We’ve made it work, and you know they were being wooed by others. But there’s no more wooing, I think we’re in pretty good shape,” he said.

“Absolutely,” the crown prince said.

The AI deal, finalised on Thursday, is a boost for the UAE, which has been trying to balance its relations with its longtime ally the US and its largest trading partner China.

It reflects the Trump administration’s confidence that the chips can be managed securely, in part by requiring data centres be managed by US companies.

“Yesterday the two countries also agreed to create a path for UAE to buy some of the world’s most advanced AI semiconductors from American companies, a very big contract,” Trump said.

“This will generate billions and billions of dollars in business and accelerate the UAE‘s plans to become a really major player in artificial intelligence,” he added.

Energy Investments

The UAE energy investment commitment was announced during a presentation by Sultan Al Jaber, Abu Dhabi state energy giant ADNOC’s chief executive, to Trump during the last stage of his regional tour that has drawn huge financial commitments from the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

The enterprise value of UAE investments in the US energy sector will be boosted to $440bn by 2035 from $70bn now, Al Jaber told Trump, adding U.S. energy firms will also invest in the UAE.

“Our partners have committed new investments worth $60bn in upstream oil and gas, as well as new and unconventional opportunities,” Jaber said in front of a slide showing projects in the UAE under the logos of US companies ExxonMobil, Oxy and EOG Resources.

XRG, the international investment arm of ADNOC, is seeking to make a significant investment in US natural gas, Jaber, who is also XRG’s executive chairman and minister of industry and advanced technology, has said.

Already in March, when senior UAE officials met Trump, the UAE had committed to a 10-year, $1.4tn investment framework in the US in sectors including energy, AI and manufacturing to deepen reciprocal ties.

“We’re making great progress for the $1.4 (trillion) that UAE has announced it intends to spend in the United States,” Trump said on his last stop on a Gulf tour that has focused, at least publicly, on investment deal.

However, Trump did engage in some diplomacy on his whirlwind meetings with some of the world’s biggest energy producers.

He met with Syria’s new interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Riyadh and said he would order the lifting of sanctions on Syria at the behest of Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, a major US policy shift.

US President Donald Trump said on Friday he was returning to Washington after wrapping up his Gulf tour.

“Let’s see what happens with Russia and Ukraine,” he said, referring to Russia-Ukraine talks taking place in Turkey.

Trump said he will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin “as soon as we can set it up”.

Russian and Ukrainian negotiators will meet in Istanbul on Friday for their first peace talks in more than three years as both sides come under pressure from US President Donald Trump to end Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War Two.

The encounter at the Dolmabahce Palace on the Bosphorus is a sign of diplomatic progress between the warring sides, who had not met face-to-face since March 2022.

A meeting between Turkish, US and Ukrainian officials in Istanbul has started, said a Turkish foreign ministry source.

But expectations for a major breakthrough, already low, were dented further on Thursday when Trump said there would be no movement without a meeting between himself and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin.

The United Arab Emirates plans to increase the value of its energy investments in the United States to $440bn in the next decade, it said on Friday, boosting US President Donald Trump’s efforts to secure major business deals on a Gulf tour.

The wealthy oil power’s strategy was announced during a presentation by Sultan Al Jaber, Abu Dhabi oil giant ADNOC’s chief executive, to Trump during the last stage of his regional trip that has drawn huge financial commitments from the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

The enterprise value of UAE investments in the US energy sector will be boosted to $440bn by 2035 from $70bn now, Al Jaber told Trump, adding US energy firms will also invest in the UAE.

“Our partners have committed new investments worth $60bn in upstream oil and gas, as well as new and unconventional opportunities,” Al Jaber said in front of a slide showing projects in the UAE under the logos of US companies ExxonMobil, Oxy and EOG Resources.

Already in March, when senior UAE officials met Trump, the UAE had committed to a 10-year, $1.4tn investment framework in the United States to deepen reciprocal ties.

The framework will “substantially increase the UAE’s existing investments in the US economy” in AI infrastructure, semiconductors, energy, and manufacturing, the White House said in a statement.

‘GREAT PROGRESS’

“We’re making great progress for the $1.4tn that UAE has announced it intends to spend in the United States,” Trump said in Abu Dhabi, his last stop on a Gulf tour that has focused on investment deals, not security crises in the Middle East, including Israel’s war in Gaza.

“Yesterday the two countries also agreed to create a path for UAE to buy some of the world’s most advanced AI semiconductors from American companies, a very big contract.”

Trump said the deal will generate billions of dollars in business and accelerate efforts by the UAE, an oil power and regional economic power, to become a major player in artificial intelligence.

“And I read where – the oil and gas and all is great but you’re going to have equally big, and maybe even bigger – at some point, you’ll be surpassing it with AI and other businesses, so that’s a great tribute to the job you’ve done here,” Trump told UAE officials on Friday during his visit.

XRG, the international investment arm of ADNOC, is seeking to make a significant investment in US natural gas, Al Jaber, who is also XRG’s executive chairman and minister of industry and advanced technology, has said.

ADNOC’s stakes in Next Decade’s Rio Grande LNG export facility and a planned ExxonMobil hydrogen plant – both in Texas – were transferred to XRG, which was set up last year and which ADNOC has said has $80bn in assets. It has a mandate to pursue global deals in chemicals, natural gas and renewables.

Mubadala Energy, an arm of Abu Dhabi’s second largest sovereign wealth fund, last month signed a deal with US firm Kimmeridge that will give it stakes in US gas assets.

Nissan in the Middle East reported a year-on-year increase in sales across the Middle East for the first nine months of its financial year (April- December 2024), a strong performance when compared to the brand’s global performance and automotive headwinds.

Thierry Sabbagh, divisional vice president and president – Middle East, Saudi Arabia, CIS – Nissan & INFINITI, recently spoke to Gulf Business to discuss the key drivers behind the brand’s regional success and star models, its new global strategy, the evolving role of digital transformation, and how Infiniti is carving a space in the premium segment. Here are excerpts of the chat.

Nissan recorded a 24 per cent year-on-year increase in sales between April and December. What were the key factors driving this growth, and how has the region responded? Why are you so optimistic about the future?

I think it’s important to put Nissan’s performance in context. We’ve been present in this region for more than 70 years, and over that time, we’ve built not only strong partnerships but also significant brand equity. Across most Middle Eastern markets today, Nissan is a well-established, trusted brand with high demand.

A few years ago, we set a clear vision focused on delivering novelty and relevance to this region. That means ensuring all the products we bring here are not only in demand but also tested under local conditions to guarantee top quality and engineering excellence.

As part of our regional strategy, we committed to introducing five new SUVs to the region by FY 2026.

This fiscal year alone, we launched three key models:

• The iconic Nissan Patrol, which we unveiled globally right here in Abu Dhabi — reinforcing our commitment to the region.
• The all-new Nissan Kicks, a bold compact SUV that generated strong buzz.
• The Nissan Magnite, a compact SUV that was originally introduced in India and is now gaining popularity here.

We plan to introduce two more new products in this cycle. So the first pillar of growth is definitely bringing the right products to market.

Secondly, we’ve placed a strong emphasis on customer centricity — not just around the vehicles but the entire ownership experience. We’ve invested heavily in our digital platforms to ensure a seamless omnichannel experience, whether the customer journey begins online or in our showrooms.

Third, customers are increasingly excited about advanced features. With the new Patrol, we introduced technologies, including NissanConnect 2.0 powered by Google, which provides an intuitive and connected driving experience and ProPILOT, which enables advanced driver-assistance techology for safer and more relaxed journeys.

And finally, we owe a lot to our partners in the region — highly professional, committed, and progressive — who deliver a premium customer experience across the board.

Despite challenges globally, Nissan is performing strongly in this region. Why is the Middle East an outlier?

There’s no doubt the global auto industry has faced serious challenges in recent years — from chip shortages to logistics crises — and most OEMs have struggled. But Nissan has a clear global turnaround plan. And when it comes to this region, the outlook is bright.

We have introduced Re:Nissan, a recovery plan that implements decisive and bold actions to enhance performance and create a leaner, more resilient business that adapts quickly to market changes. With a fresh focus under new management, Nissan is reassessing its targets and has conducted a comprehensive review of key initiatives, introducing further measures to ensure a strong recovery.

Globally, with Re:Nissan, the company targets a total cost savings of 500bn yen versus fiscal year 24 actuals in fixed and variable cost savings. These savings will establish a framework to secure operating profitability and free cash flow in the automotive business by fiscal year 2026.

This strategy will further power our growth in the Middle East.

The automotive market in the region has grown around 9.3 to 10 per cent. We’re seeing supportive national visions from governments in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, which are accelerating development and investment. We’ve positioned ourselves to ride that momentum.

Because we have a trusted brand, strong equity, and committed partners, our voice at the global table is getting louder. Nissan is making targeted investments in this region — bringing in the right products, features, and technologies to meet evolving customer needs.

And it’s not just about volume growth — though that matters. We’re also focusing on customer satisfaction and brand strength. We actively measure both and have seen consistent improvements. When satisfaction and brand equity go up, volume tends to follow naturally.

Can you share how Infiniti is performing, especially in the premium segment that’s so important in this region?

Absolutely. Nissan Motor Corporation is fully committed to Infiniti. It’s a niche global brand, present in select markets like the US, China, and the Middle East.

We began repositioning Infiniti a few years ago with the launch of the Infiniti QX60, which helped us re-establish the brand in the luxury SUV space.

This year, we took a major leap forward with the launch of the all-new Infiniti QX80 — a complete redesign offering best-in-class features, from luxury design and technology to unmatched driving dynamics. We’ve seen strong traction for it in the region.

Equally important, our partners have invested in upgrading their facilities to the Infiniti IREDI 4.0 standard, offering a premium experience that matches the expectations of luxury customers.

Tell us about Nissan’s progress in key areas powered by your regional strategy.

1. Product expansion — with a focus on SUVs, a segment that’s growing rapidly. SUVs now make up 54 per cent of our mix. The Nissan X-Trail has seen an 11 per cent increase in volume, and the Nissan Xterra has grown by 33 per cent. We’re also strengthening offerings with models like the Kicks, Magnite, and Patrol.
2. Market presence — We’re expanding actively. For example, we’ve re-entered the Iraqi market, where our partners have invested in four new facilities, including three full 3S centres.
3. Sustainability and future mobility — We’re collaborating with regional governments to shape the future of mobility. We’re aligning our regional strategy with Nissan’s global sustainability commitments.

Electrification and driverless tech are key focus areas. How is Nissan advancing these in the Middle East?

Nissan was an EV pioneer — we launched the Nissan LEAF in 2010, making us the first global brand to commercialise EVs at scale.

Globally, we’ve committed to being carbon neutral by 2050, and by 2030, the majority of our products will be electrified.

In the Middle East, EV adoption is growing but still faces challenges, particularly range anxiety. Combustion engines continue to dominate, especially in areas where infrastructure is still maturing.

That said, we are carefully studying market readiness. We’re bringing in hybrid options and advanced connected vehicle technologies like ADAS (advanced driver assistance systems) and Google built-in, and we’re laying the groundwork for wider EV adoption when the time is right.

We’re committed to bringing the right technologies at the right time — balancing innovation with customer readiness.

Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company – Masdar – has issued a new $1bngreen bond, boosting its total outstanding under the green bond programme to $2.75bn.

The latest issuance was structured in two equal tranches of $500m, with tenors of five and 10 years and respective coupon rates of 4.875 per cent and 5.375 per cent.

The offering drew robust investor interest, with a peak orderbook of $6.6bn, significantly oversubscribed by both regional and international investors, including dedicated green funds.

Spreads over US Treasuries were finalised at 80 basis points for the 5-year tranche and 90 basis points for the 10-year, marking the tightest pricing the company has achieved to date.

Allocation was split 85 per cent to international investors and 15 per cent to investors in the MENA region.

Third issuance to fund portfolio capacity targets, says Masdar CEO

“This third issuance demonstrates the continued and growing confidence the investment community places in Masdar’s financial strength and long-term vision,” said Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO of Masdar. “The funds raised will be critical in Masdar achieving its portfolio capacity targets and will enable us to support energy transformation across the globe, especially in emerging markets and developing economies… giving investors complete confidence as to how their money is being spent.”

The company previously issued green bonds of $750m and $1bn in 2023 and 2024 respectively.

All proceeds from its green bond programme are allocated exclusively to new “dark green” renewable energy projects in both developed and developing economies.

Read: Masdar raises $1bn through second green bond issuance

In 2024, Masdar also secured $6bn in non-recourse financing to develop more than 11 gigawatts (GW) of clean energy capacity across 12 new projects in nine countries.

“This latest green bond issuance, aligned with our Green Finance Framework, underscores the overwhelming investor confidence in our financial resilience and strategic direction,” said Mazin Khan, CFO of Masdar. “Masdar is raising sustainable finance on an industrial scale… giving investors the opportunity to play their part in the green financing agenda.”

Green Finance Framework update in 2024

The clean energy giant updated its Green Finance Framework in March 2024, expanding eligible categories to include green hydrogen and standalone battery storage projects. In April, Moody’s reaffirmed the framework’s top-tier Sustainability Quality Score of SQS1 (Excellent).

The bond was rated AA- by Fitch and A1 by Moody’s, in line with its corporate credit ratings.

Joint lead managers and bookrunners for the issuance were First Abu Dhabi Bank, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, J.P. Morgan, ING, Intesa Sanpaolo, Bank of China, DBS Bank, BNP Paribas and Crédit Agricole.