The majestic hall at Qasr Al Watan Palace in Abu Dhabi buzzed with protocol staff neatly adjusting white chairs around a U-shaped table.
For nearly an hour, the room was filled with the sound of footsteps, shifting seats, rustling papers and the click of cameras.
Then, silence.
US President Donald Trump entered the room slowly, accompanied by Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi. Everyone stood. A woman discreetly moved Mr Trump's chair, and he sat.
“Thank you for the hospitality,” he said, referring to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE.
It was his final hour before leaving the Gulf and he was departing with a bag packed full of mega-deals and a long-term commitment to the strategic region.
A day after he was bestowed with the Order of Zayed, a medal of pure gold and the UAE’s highest civilian honour, it was time for faith and oil.
He was given a capsule of locally produced oil by the head of the UAE's Adnoc. “The highest quality oil there is on the planet and they only gave me a drop of it. So, I’m not thrilled,” Mr Trump joked.
Dr Sultan Al Jaber, managing director and group chief executive of Adnoc, explained to Mr Trump that the oil was Murban, one of the highest-quality crudes.
Co-operation over conflict
In the Abrahamic Family House, a symbol of interfaith acceptance and understanding, he signed the visitors' book, saying it represents the tolerance the world desperately needs.
"I see in this house the promise for our own future if humanity chooses co-operation over conflict, friendship over enmity, prosperity over poverty and hope over despair," he wrote.
At Zayed International Airport later in the afternoon, the mood shifted again. Mr Trump waved goodbye with a clenched fist from the top of the stairs to Air Force One, ending his four-day Gulf tour with a blend of symbolism, business and pageantry.
And with that goodbye, the historic Gulf tour was over: three countries, trillions pledged and one capsule of premium crude in his pocket.
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League quarter-final second leg:
Juventus 1 Ajax 2
Ajax advance 3-2 on aggregate
Jiu-jitsu calendar of events for 2017-2018:
August 5:
Round-1 of the President’s Cup in Al Ain.
August 11-13:
Asian Championship in Vietnam.
September 8-9:
Ajman International.
September 16-17
Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, Ashgabat.
September 22-24:
IJJF Balkan Junior Open, Montenegro.
September 23-24:
Grand Slam Los Angeles.
September 29:
Round-1 Mother of The Nation Cup.
October 13-14:
Al Ain U18 International.
September 20-21:
Al Ain International.
November 3:
Round-2 Mother of The National Cup.
November 4:
Round-2 President’s Cup.
November 10-12:
Grand Slam Rio de Janeiro.
November 24-26:
World Championship, Columbia.
November 30:
World Beach Championship, Columbia.
December 8-9:
Dubai International.
December 23:
Round-3 President’s Cup, Sharjah.
January 12-13:
Grand Slam Abu Dhabi.
January 26-27:
Fujairah International.
February 3:
Round-4 President’s Cup, Al Dhafra.
February 16-17:
Ras Al Khaimah International.
February 23-24:
The Challenge Championship.
March 10-11:
Grand Slam London.
March 16:
Final Round – Mother of The Nation.
March 17:
Final Round – President’s Cup.
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The%20specs
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GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
FINAL RESULT
Sharjah Wanderers 20 Dubai Tigers 25 (After extra-time)
Wanderers
Tries: Gormley, Penalty
cons: Flaherty
Pens: Flaherty 2
Tigers
Tries: O’Donnell, Gibbons, Kelly
Cons: Caldwell 2
Pens: Caldwell, Cross
THE SPECS
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Transmission: six-speed manual
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Speed: 0-100km/h 3.9 seconds
Price: Dh230,000
On sale: now
