Live updates: Follow the latest on Trump's Gulf trip
Touching down at Riyadh airport, the tension is palpable. As you drive from the airport into central Riyadh, the flags of the US and Saudi Arabia flutter in the wind along the route.
The destination is the Ritz-Carlton, where a business forum is part of President Donald Trump's three-state tour of the Gulf. This is the first official foreign trip of Mr Trump's second term, and when he lands on Tuesday morning, the objective is to do deals and to expand spheres of influence.
Let's talk about the deals first of all. This is where the companies that are also attending come in: Larry Fink, dealmaker-extraordinaire for BlackRock; Jane Fraser from Citibank; Kelly Ortberg, chief executive of Boeing; and Nvidia boss Jensen Huang.
Defence, AI and nuclear know-how
So what's in play? Well, right now, Saudi Arabia has committed $600 billion of investment in the US, while the UAE has committed $1.4 trillion over the next 10 years.
Expectations are high that Saudi Arabia will raise the game from $600 billion to a higher number. We've been promised this by Mr Trump, that something very big is going to be announced. The question is, what will it be?
Will it be on AI – days ahead of a Joe Biden-era plan to curb foreign access to cutting-edge chips?
Will it be on security? People are tipping defence and nuclear as being perhaps the most prominent areas where deals could be done. The kingdom is known to be keen to push ahead with a civilian nuclear power plan, and is looking for expertise to make it happen.
When it comes to this slightly bigger story, this is about spheres of influence. As the US moves towards, some would say, a more splendid isolation, why try to start this new relationship with Saudi Arabia?
US favour
Perhaps there is an additional subplot to be considered more deeply.
Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar lie at that fault line between East and West, between the US and China. And this trip is very much “come do your deals in the US, we will perhaps even expedite those more quickly for you from your sovereign wealth funds”.
The subplot is, of course, a bigger and grander security bargain for the Gulf and the Middle East. Again, spheres of influence, because China wants to encroach where the US is said to be withdrawing from.
China wants to yield a new form of power, where the US may retrench. And that is the essence of what Mr Trump wants to make sure does not happen.
He wants to ensure that these Gulf nations, their wealth and their capacity to deploy are swayed very closely towards the US. And for that, you have got to have a grand bargain.
Competition
So that's what's on the cards for Saudi Arabia and the UAE. But you've got to hand it to Qatar for looking to shine more brightly than your neighbours. They've offered, according to reports, a fully fitted-out 747 to serve as the next Air Force One. The details, we understand, are still to be worked out.
And finally, the other major story is that Qatar may be in the market for a 100-jet Boeing plane order. So the deal flow is already starting. Let's see what their neighbours deliver.
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UK's plans to cut net migration
Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.
Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.
Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.
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How has net migration to UK changed?
The figure was broadly flat immediately before the Covid-19 pandemic, standing at 216,000 in the year to June 2018 and 224,000 in the year to June 2019.
It then dropped to an estimated 111,000 in the year to June 2020 when restrictions introduced during the pandemic limited travel and movement.
The total rose to 254,000 in the year to June 2021, followed by steep jumps to 634,000 in the year to June 2022 and 906,000 in the year to June 2023.
The latest available figure of 728,000 for the 12 months to June 2024 suggests levels are starting to decrease.
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Name: Akeed
Based: Muscat
Launch year: 2018
Number of employees: 40
Sector: Online food delivery
Funding: Raised $3.2m since inception
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Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, established Edge in 2019.
It brought together 25 state-owned and independent companies specialising in weapons systems, cyber protection and electronic warfare.
Edge has an annual revenue of $5 billion and employs more than 12,000 people.
Some of the companies include Nimr, a maker of armoured vehicles, Caracal, which manufactures guns and ammunitions company, Lahab
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
ICC Women's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2025, Thailand
UAE fixtures
May 9, v Malaysia
May 10, v Qatar
May 13, v Malaysia
May 15, v Qatar
May 18 and 19, semi-finals
May 20, final
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
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Joseph E. Stiglitz
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What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
