Live updates: Follow the latest on Trump's Gulf trip
President Donald Trump will head to three Gulf capitals next week for a high-profile visit that is expected to focus on a series of deals.
He is expected to present a friendly face to the important regional allies, in contrast to some of the tough rhetoric the President has had for the EU, Ukraine and other countries. The trip will “obviously be dollar deal-focused”, a State Department official told The National. “We have Saudi, UAE and potentially Qatar announcements as well.”
The visit was initially billed as Mr Trump's first foreign trip since taking office in January, but he made an unexpected visit to Rome last month for the funeral of Pope Francis. Mr Trump will visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE to “strengthen ties” with those countries, the White House said.
Under his “America First” approach to foreign policy, Mr Trump has antagonised allies and trading partners, and overturned long-held US policies on critical issues such as climate and the war in Ukraine. But to the Republican President who has vowed to bring economic prosperity to the US, the Gulf region is an area of significant economic investment opportunities.
A number of corporate leaders and heads of major defence and aerospace companies are expected to join him on the trip. The UAE has already committed to a 10-year, $1.4 trillion investment in the US. In Saudi Arabia, his first stop, Mr Trump is set to seal an arms deal with the kingdom worth more than $100 billion, Reuters reported last month.
Gaza war
“He's under some significant public pressure here in Washington that he probably didn't expect at this level,” said Douglas Silliman, president of the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington. “So he's going to want to show Americans that he has got close ties, good economic and political, and maybe security relations too.”
The investment package with Riyadh is expected to last more than four years and builds on talks held under the previous administration. Former president Joe Biden tried to advance the deal as part of a wider effort to expand the Abraham Accords.
But the establishing of official ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel has been stalled by the continuing war on Gaza following Hamas's deadly attack on October 7, 2023. More than 52,567 Palestinians have been killed since, with more than double that number injured. Much of the coastal enclave has been reduced to rubble and for more than two months Israel has blocked all food and aid from entering.
“The Saudis remained interested in Abraham Accords-type normalisation deal for the vast majority of the war,” a former Biden administration said. “They were pretty adamant, but also recognised that they could not agree to any such agreement while the war was continuing,” the official added, noting that a framework for the deal had been formulated.
US Presidential visits to Saudi Arabia - in pictures
Hamas officials last month said intensive negotiations were under way to reach a Gaza ceasefire agreement before Mr Trump’s visit. But on Monday the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a new offensive in Gaza aimed at defeating Hamas, Experts in Washington said the trip's dates suggest there may be no imminent breakthrough for Gaza.
“I don't think he's going with a concrete, diplomatic agenda,” said Khaled Elgindy, an adjunct professor at Georgetown University and an expert on US foreign relations in the Middle East. “He hasn't had a coherent diplomatic approach to the region since he came to office, so I don't see why he would suddenly have one now.”
Still, Gulf capitals are expected to discuss the war and hopes to take part in the enclave's eventual reconstruction. They envision Mr Trump will abandon his plan to empty out Palestinian residents and turn the territory into a beach resort. However, Mr Netanyahu said on Monday that the local population will be moved “for its own protection”.
At the beginning of Mr Trump's first term, in 2017, his first foreign trip was also to Saudi Arabia. He stopped in Israel and the Vatican before attending two summits in Brussels and Sicily.
Much has changed since, analysts say, both in the US and across the Middle East. The trip comes amid a continuing US-China trade war, renewed US pressure on Iran over its nuclear programme and diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
Gulf leaders are likely to seek reassurance from Washington that US talks with Iran over Tehran’s nuclear programme will succeed. Saudi Arabia and several Arab states have welcomed the negotiations, which are mediated by neighbouring Oman.
Tariffs, trade and unpredictable Trump
Gulf states can be optimistic about good relations with the US based on trade, AI development, energy and investments. But there is also cause for concern. Mr Trump last month slapped a 10 per cent tariff rate on the three Gulf states, raising concerns, at least in the medium term, that the levies could hurt their economies.
Mr Silliman said Gulf leaders are likely to want to get a better sense of Mr Trump's economic vision, given the impact any slowdown in global trade could have on oil-producing countries. They will also take the opportunity to be the first to host and be heard by the US President.
“I really do think they want to distinguish themselves as the countries in the world that have the closest relationship with the United States,” Mr Silliman said.
Abu Dhabi card
5pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 2,400m
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 2,200m
6pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 1,400m
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 1,400m
7pm: Handicap (PA) Dh85,000 1,600m
7.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m
The National selections:
5pm: Valcartier
5.30pm: AF Taraha
6pm: Dhafra
6.30pm: Maqam
7pm: AF Mekhbat
7.30pm: Ezz Al Rawasi
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
HOW TO WATCH
Facebook: TheNationalNews
Twitter: @thenationalnews
Instagram: @thenationalnews.com
TikTok: @thenationalnews
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
On sale: Now
Citizenship-by-investment programmes
United Kingdom
The UK offers three programmes for residency. The UK Overseas Business Representative Visa lets you open an overseas branch office of your existing company in the country at no extra investment. For the UK Tier 1 Innovator Visa, you are required to invest £50,000 (Dh238,000) into a business. You can also get a UK Tier 1 Investor Visa if you invest £2 million, £5m or £10m (the higher the investment, the sooner you obtain your permanent residency).
All UK residency visas get approved in 90 to 120 days and are valid for 3 years. After 3 years, the applicant can apply for extension of another 2 years. Once they have lived in the UK for a minimum of 6 months every year, they are eligible to apply for permanent residency (called Indefinite Leave to Remain). After one year of ILR, the applicant can apply for UK passport.
The Caribbean
Depending on the country, the investment amount starts from $100,000 (Dh367,250) and can go up to $400,000 in real estate. From the date of purchase, it will take between four to five months to receive a passport.
Portugal
The investment amount ranges from €350,000 to €500,000 (Dh1.5m to Dh2.16m) in real estate. From the date of purchase, it will take a maximum of six months to receive a Golden Visa. Applicants can apply for permanent residency after five years and Portuguese citizenship after six years.
“Among European countries with residency programmes, Portugal has been the most popular because it offers the most cost-effective programme to eventually acquire citizenship of the European Union without ever residing in Portugal,” states Veronica Cotdemiey of Citizenship Invest.
Greece
The real estate investment threshold to acquire residency for Greece is €250,000, making it the cheapest real estate residency visa scheme in Europe. You can apply for residency in four months and citizenship after seven years.
Spain
The real estate investment threshold to acquire residency for Spain is €500,000. You can apply for permanent residency after five years and citizenship after 10 years. It is not necessary to live in Spain to retain and renew the residency visa permit.
Cyprus
Cyprus offers the quickest route to citizenship of a European country in only six months. An investment of €2m in real estate is required, making it the highest priced programme in Europe.
Malta
The Malta citizenship by investment programme is lengthy and investors are required to contribute sums as donations to the Maltese government. The applicant must either contribute at least €650,000 to the National Development & Social Fund. Spouses and children are required to contribute €25,000; unmarried children between 18 and 25 and dependent parents must contribute €50,000 each.
The second step is to make an investment in property of at least €350,000 or enter a property rental contract for at least €16,000 per annum for five years. The third step is to invest at least €150,000 in bonds or shares approved by the Maltese government to be kept for at least five years.
Candidates must commit to a minimum physical presence in Malta before citizenship is granted. While you get residency in two months, you can apply for citizenship after a year.
Egypt
A one-year residency permit can be bought if you purchase property in Egypt worth $100,000. A three-year residency is available for those who invest $200,000 in property, and five years for those who purchase property worth $400,000.
Source: Citizenship Invest and Aqua Properties
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre flat-six twin-turbocharged
Transmission: eight-speed PDK automatic
Power: 445bhp
Torque: 530Nm
Price: Dh474,600
On Sale: Now
Liverpool's all-time goalscorers
Ian Rush 339
Roger Hunt 280
Mohamed Salah 250
Gordon Hodgson 225
Billy Liddell 220
Gulf Under 19s final
Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B
Usain Bolt's World Championships record
2007 Osaka
200m Silver
4x100m relay Silver
2009 Berlin
100m Gold
200m Gold
4x100m relay Gold
2011 Daegu
100m Disqualified in final for false start
200m Gold
4x100m relay Gold
2013 Moscow
100m Gold
200m Gold
4x100m relay Gold
2015 Beijing
100m Gold
200m Gold
4x100m relay Gold
MATCH INFO
Watford 1 (Deulofeu 80' p)
Chelsea 2 (Abraham 5', Pulisic 55')
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl
Power: 153hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 200Nm at 4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Price: Dh99,000
On sale: now
Roll of honour 2019-2020
Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners: Dubai Hurricanes
Runners up: Bahrain
West Asia Premiership
Winners: Bahrain
Runners up: UAE Premiership
UAE Premiership
Winners: Dubai Exiles
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes
UAE Division One
Winners: Abu Dhabi Saracens
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes II
UAE Division Two
Winners: Barrelhouse
Runners up: RAK Rugby
Zimbabwe v UAE, ODI series
All matches at the Harare Sports Club:
1st ODI, Wednesday, April 10
2nd ODI, Friday, April 12
3rd ODI, Sunday, April 14
4th ODI, Tuesday, April 16
UAE squad: Mohammed Naveed (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Ghulam Shabber, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
A cheaper choice
Vanuatu: $130,000
Why on earth pick Vanuatu? Easy. The South Pacific country has no income tax, wealth tax, capital gains or inheritance tax. And in 2015, when it was hit by Cyclone Pam, it signed an agreement with the EU that gave it some serious passport power.
Cost: A minimum investment of $130,000 for a family of up to four, plus $25,000 in fees.
Criteria: Applicants must have a minimum net worth of $250,000. The process take six to eight weeks, after which the investor must travel to Vanuatu or Hong Kong to take the oath of allegiance. Citizenship and passport are normally provided on the same day.
Benefits: No tax, no restrictions on dual citizenship, no requirement to visit or reside to retain a passport. Visa-free access to 129 countries.
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
