The UAE conveyed a decisive message during national security advisor Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed’s visit to the White House on Tuesday: Artificial Intelligence is a priority, while Israel’s conflict in Gaza is not on the UAE’s agenda with the Trump administration.
Tahnoon, known for his aviator sunglasses due to an eye condition, holds various influential roles, including spy chief, chess grandmaster, and technology investor. His meeting with US President Donald Trump highlighted his investment interests.
During a White House dinner hosted by Trump, Tahnoon reiterated the UAE’s commitment to investing in areas such as AI, technology, infrastructure, and healthcare, according to Wam, the UAE’s official news agency.
In discussions with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Tahnoon explored ways to enhance Emirati investments in AI, as reported by Wam.
Often referred to as the “spy sheikh,” Tahnoon has a keen focus on AI. On a prior visit to the US, he even sent an Emirati official to acquire a rare copy of a book by George Washington University professor Jeffrey Ding, which outlines the future economic impact of AI.
As the chairman of two Abu Dhabi wealth funds valued at approximately $1.4 trillion, Tahnoon possesses significant financial resources to invest in AI. He also leads the artificial intelligence group G42, which secured a $1.5 billion investment from Microsoft for AI data centers in the UAE.
UAE Secures $25 Billion Investment Deal
The Biden administration has implemented restrictions on the export of advanced AI chips to nations such as the UAE. During his visit to Washington, Tahnoon aimed to persuade the Trump administration to reconsider these limitations by emphasizing that the UAE is a valuable ally in the competition for AI leadership, rather than a vulnerable target for Chinese influence.
Not long ago, the UAE was strategically balancing its relationships with Russia and China against the US, leading to concerns among US officials about China’s potential establishment of a military port in the Emirates. This raised alarms in sensitive areas, particularly technology.
However, the emergence of AI has significantly transformed the US-UAE relationship, with Tahnoon favoring American technology over Chinese alternatives and aligning the affluent Gulf nation more closely with US interests.
The UAE had already made strides with the Trump administration when MGX, a relatively obscure investment firm in Abu Dhabi managed by Tahnoon, committed to a $7 billion investment in an AI infrastructure initiative introduced by Trump.
Following Tahnoon’s trip, ADQ, an Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund led by him, announced a partnership with US private equity firm Energy Capital Partners to invest over $25 billion in energy projects aimed at powering data centers in the US.
Tahnoon’s visit coincided with that of Sultan al-Jaber, the CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, to the US.
US Vice President JD Vance commended the UAE and Jaber during a tech summit on Tuesday, reiterating his criticisms of certain European nations.
“One of the key points they consistently emphasize—something that unfortunately too few of our European allies seem to grasp—is that to lead in artificial intelligence, you must also excel in energy production,” Vance remarked, expressing his enthusiasm for the UAE’s participation in the tech summit.
UAE Distances Itself Further from Gulf States Regarding Gaza
The substantial investment the UAE is making in American AI and technology grants it significant influence over the Trump administration, according to US and Arab officials speaking to MEE.
During the recent visit by UAE officials, there were no public discussions or statements regarding Israel’s renewed military actions in Gaza, which escalated on Tuesday with Israeli airstrikes on the region.
The UAE’s actions highlight its growing divergence from its affluent Gulf neighbors.
In contrast to Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has openly accused Israel of genocide in Gaza, the UAE has maintained its engagement with Israel.
Privately, the UAE has distanced itself from other Arab nations by lobbying the Trump administration against a reconstruction plan for Gaza that was proposed by Egypt and supported by the Arab League, as reported by MEE.
In January, the UAE’s foreign minister hosted his Israeli counterpart prior to a temporary ceasefire in Gaza. The two nations established normalized relations in 2020 as part of Trump’s Abraham Accords.
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