Live updates: Follow the latest on Trump's Gulf trip
Trump in Abu Dhabi: What to expect on final day of Gulf tour
Donald Trump has touched down in Abu Dhabi, becoming only the second serving US President to visit the UAE.
He was welcomed by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed and is heading to Abu Dhabi's main island on the first day of his two-day trip.
Here's what to expect:
- Mr Trump is visiting Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, an architectural landmark and one of the largest mosques in the world
- After a short stop at the Ritz-Carlton, he will move on to Qasr Al Watan, the grand presidential palace on the Corniche, where the official ceremony for a head of state will be held. We can expect to see Mr Trump welcomed by an honour guard. Past leader visits have included a flyover by stunt jets
- Mr Trump will be welcomed by President Sheikh Mohamed and hold bilateral talks. This will be followed by a state dinner
- Various deals are expected to be signed between the UAE and the US, with AI in particular one area to watch
On Friday, Mr Trump is scheduled to meet US embassy staff, participate in a US-UAE business event and visit the Abrahamic Family House on Saadiyat Island, a symbol of interfaith dialogue. He will then depart for Washington DC by mid-afternoon on Friday.
Warm Emirati welcome
At the Presidential Terminal in Abu Dhabi airport, Mr Trump stopped to speak to Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi and National Security Adviser, and Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister.
Also in attendance was Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Tahnoon, Advisor to the President; Dr Ahmed Mubarak Al Mazrouei, Chairman of the President's Office for Strategic Affairs and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Office; Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority; Yousef Al Otaiba, UAE Ambassador to the US; and a number of senior officials.
The plane carrying the US President entered UAE airspace and was escorted by a squadron of military aircraft to celebrate his visit. The commander of the squadron asked Mr Trump for permission to accompany him to the Presidential Airport, welcoming him to the Emirates.
Deals to look out for
In his four-day visit, Mr Trump predicted that $3.5-$4 trillion in deals would have been pledged.
Deals are expected between the US and the Emirates in the coming day. This week, the US government axed a Biden-era ruling that, from May 15, would have restricted access to cutting-edge AI chips, including Nvidia's Blackwell chip, to foreign buyers including the Gulf states.
The move will pave the way for major deals between UAE and US companies.
Our predictions of the deal are here.
Warm welcome
The UAE is home to an estimated 50,000 American expats.
As with everywhere a US President goes, they divide opinion. But the American expats that The National spoke to said they hope his push for friendship and peace in the Middle East will be the legacy of his visit, whatever their personal politics.
“I hope President Trump will have a positive influence and impact, not just for America but for everyone involved, as this area has experienced instability with the wars," said Darlene Tezdiker, 56, from Florida, who teaches adults English and has lived in the UAE for more than a decade.
Meanwhile, a former mission director for Air Force One who is now an Abu Dhabi resident has told of what it's like aboard the "flying White House".
“I’m here as an Arab-American and it feels how I grew up in the US," said the Egyptian-American Sharief Fahmy, speaking of his home in the Emirati capital.
He was part of a team of mission directors on Air Force One in the 2000s during the George W Bush administration.
"People from all over the world are working together at the top of their game,” he said.
Read more:
UAE and US working to announce AI and tech partnership
'Trump is our hope for peace': US residents in UAE buoyed by visit
Inside Abu Dhabi's Presidential Palace hosting Donald Trump
more from Janine di Giovanni
Which honey takes your fancy?
Al Ghaf Honey
The Al Ghaf tree is a local desert tree which bears the harsh summers with drought and high temperatures. From the rich flowers, bees that pollinate this tree can produce delicious red colour honey in June and July each year
Sidr Honey
The Sidr tree is an evergreen tree with long and strong forked branches. The blossom from this tree is called Yabyab, which provides rich food for bees to produce honey in October and November. This honey is the most expensive, but tastiest
Samar Honey
The Samar tree trunk, leaves and blossom contains Barm which is the secret of healing. You can enjoy the best types of honey from this tree every year in May and June. It is an historical witness to the life of the Emirati nation which represents the harsh desert and mountain environments
TOURNAMENT INFO
Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier
Jul 3- 14, in the Netherlands
The top two teams will qualify to play at the World T20 in the West Indies in November
UAE squad
Humaira Tasneem (captain), Chamani Seneviratne, Subha Srinivasan, Neha Sharma, Kavisha Kumari, Judit Cleetus, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Heena Hotchandani, Namita D’Souza, Ishani Senevirathne, Esha Oza, Nisha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Floward%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERiyadh%2C%20Saudi%20Arabia%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAbdulaziz%20Al%20Loughani%20and%20Mohamed%20Al%20Arifi%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EE-commerce%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETotal%20funding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAbout%20%24200%20million%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAljazira%20Capital%2C%20Rainwater%20Partners%2C%20STV%20and%20Impact46%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E1%2C200%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Company Profile:
Name: The Protein Bakeshop
Date of start: 2013
Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani
Based: Dubai
Size, number of employees: 12
Funding/investors: $400,000 (2018)
Aayan%E2%80%99s%20records
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EYoungest%20UAE%20men%E2%80%99s%20cricketer%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EWhen%20he%20debuted%20against%20Bangladesh%20aged%2016%20years%20and%20314%20days%2C%20he%20became%20the%20youngest%20ever%20to%20play%20for%20the%20men%E2%80%99s%20senior%20team.%20He%20broke%20the%20record%20set%20by%20his%20World%20Cup%20squad-mate%2C%20Alishan%20Sharafu%2C%20of%2017%20years%20and%2044%20days.%3Cbr%3E%20%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EYoungest%20wicket-taker%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EAfter%20taking%20the%20wicket%20of%20Bangladesh%E2%80%99s%20Litton%20Das%20on%20debut%20in%20Dubai%2C%20Aayan%20became%20the%20youngest%20male%20cricketer%20to%20take%20a%20wicket%20against%20a%20Full%20Member%20nation%20in%20a%20T20%20international.%3Cbr%3E%20%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EYoungest%20in%20T20%20World%20Cup%20history%3F%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EAayan%20does%20not%20turn%2017%20until%20November%2015%20%E2%80%93%20which%20is%20two%20days%20after%20the%20T20%20World%20Cup%20final%20at%20the%20MCG.%20If%20he%20does%20play%20in%20the%20competition%2C%20he%20will%20be%20its%20youngest%20ever%20player.%20Pakistan%E2%80%99s%20Mohammed%20Amir%2C%20who%20was%2017%20years%20and%2055%20days%20when%20he%20played%20in%202009%2C%20currently%20holds%20the%20record.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
12%20restaurants%20opening%20at%20the%20hotel%20this%20month
%3Cp%3EAriana%E2%80%99s%20Persian%20Kitchen%3Cbr%3EDinner%20by%20Heston%20Blumenthal%3Cbr%3EEstiatorio%20Milos%3Cbr%3EHouse%20of%20Desserts%3Cbr%3EJaleo%20by%20Jose%20Andres%3Cbr%3ELa%20Mar%3Cbr%3ELing%20Ling%3Cbr%3ELittle%20Venice%20Cake%20Company%3Cbr%3EMalibu%2090265%3Cbr%3ENobu%20by%20the%20Beach%3Cbr%3EResonance%20by%20Heston%20Blumenthal%3Cbr%3EThe%20Royal%20Tearoom%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The Beach Bum
Director: Harmony Korine
Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Isla Fisher, Snoop Dogg
Two stars
The Freedom Artist
By Ben Okri (Head of Zeus)
Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
Director: Scott Cooper
Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Odessa Young, Jeremy Strong
Rating: 4/5
'Morbius'
Director: Daniel Espinosa
Stars: Jared Leto, Matt Smith, Adria Arjona
Rating: 2/5
