RIYADH : U.S. President Donald Trump landed in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, commencing a four-day Middle East tour aimed at securing substantial economic deals and reinforcing diplomatic ties. The trip, which also includes visits to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, marks his first major international engagement since beginning his second term.
Air Force One touched down at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, escorted by six Saudi F-15 fighter jets in a ceremonial welcome. President Trump was greeted by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and the two leaders walked down a lavender carpet before engaging in discussions at the Royal Terminal .
Central to the visit is the Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum, where President Trump aims to secure approximately $1 trillion in deals. The forum features prominent U.S. business leaders, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. Discussions are expected to cover strategic sectors such as artificial intelligence (AI), energy, defense, and manufacturing .
In a significant development, Saudi Arabia launched a new AI company named Humain, chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Owned by the Public Investment Fund, Humain aims to position the kingdom as a global AI hub by developing technologies and infrastructure, including large data centers and Arabic-language AI models .
President Trump’s itinerary also includes attending the Gulf Cooperation Council Summit in Riyadh, where discussions will focus on regional security and economic cooperation. The president is expected to announce a landmark civil nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia, allowing limited uranium enrichment under U.S. oversight .
Following his engagements in Saudi Arabia, President Trump will proceed to Qatar on May 15 and the United Arab Emirates on May 16, continuing his efforts to bolster U.S. partnerships in the region .
This trip underscores the Trump administration’s commitment to reinforcing alliances in the Gulf and advancing economic initiatives that align with both U.S. and regional interests.
