By Sama Marwan,
U.S. President Donald Trump began a visit to the Gulf region today, starting in Saudi Arabia. This marks his first extended foreign trip during his second term in office. He is then expected to travel to the UAE and Qatar. While the trip is officially focused on financial investments and trade, ongoing controversy surrounding a luxurious Qatari plane gifted to the U.S. — intended to serve as a new presidential aircraft — is expected to cast a shadow over the visit.
Trump’s Goals in Visiting the Gulf Trio:
1. Pushing for Investments
The main goal of Trump’s visit to the Middle East is to strengthen ties and discuss investment opportunities with each of the three countries. According to Axios, Trump aims to return from the trip with investment commitments and trade deals worth $1 trillion.
Just days after Trump’s inauguration, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman stated that Saudi Arabia would invest $600 billion in the United States over the four years of Trump’s second term. Trump’s first phone call with a foreign leader after his oath of office was with the crown prince, and he is scheduled to attend an investment forum on Tuesday in Riyadh.
In March, the White House announced that the UAE committed to a 10-year investment framework worth $1.4 trillion in the United States. The White House stated that this plan will significantly boost current UAE investments in key sectors such as AI infrastructure, semiconductors, energy, and American manufacturing.
2. Broader Middle East Policy in the Background
Trump’s itinerary does not include a stop in Israel, but his administration’s alliance with Israel and its foreign policy toward Gaza and Iran will heavily influence the trip.
On Sunday, Trump announced that Hamas would release Edan Alexander, the last surviving American hostage held in Gaza — a move that may pave the way for talks toward a long-term ceasefire in the strip.
In another part of the Middle East, Trump said Monday that he is considering lifting sanctions on Syria, given the crisis following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government. Trump officials have also spoken about efforts to mediate a new nuclear deal with Iran.
3. Trade Talks
Trump’s visit comes as his administration announced negotiations with all key trade partners to strike deals aimed at reducing tariffs, once a 90-day deadline ends in July.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was the first foreign leader to meet with Trump at the White House after the global tariff announcement, in an effort to reach an agreement. However, Trump’s decision not to visit Israel during his Middle East tour suggests that a deal is not imminent.
