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
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- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
Off-roading in the UAE: How to checklist
French business
France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.
Closing the loophole on sugary drinks
As The National reported last year, non-fizzy sugared drinks were not covered when the original tax was introduced in 2017. Sports drinks sold in supermarkets were found to contain, on average, 20 grams of sugar per 500ml bottle.
The non-fizzy drink AriZona Iced Tea contains 65 grams of sugar – about 16 teaspoons – per 680ml can. The average can costs about Dh6, which would rise to Dh9.
Drinks such as Starbucks Bottled Mocha Frappuccino contain 31g of sugar in 270ml, while Nescafe Mocha in a can contains 15.6g of sugar in a 240ml can.
Flavoured water, long-life fruit juice concentrates, pre-packaged sweetened coffee drinks fall under the ‘sweetened drink’ category
Not taxed:
Freshly squeezed fruit juices, ground coffee beans, tea leaves and pre-prepared flavoured milkshakes do not come under the ‘sweetened drink’ band.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
THE BIO
Ms Davison came to Dubai from Kerala after her marriage in 1996 when she was 21-years-old
Since 2001, Ms Davison has worked at many affordable schools such as Our Own English High School in Sharjah, and The Apple International School and Amled School in Dubai
Favourite Book: The Alchemist
Favourite quote: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail
Favourite place to Travel to: Vienna
Favourite cuisine: Italian food
Favourite Movie : Scent of a Woman
How does ToTok work?
The calling app is available to download on Google Play and Apple App Store
To successfully install ToTok, users are asked to enter their phone number and then create a nickname.
The app then gives users the option add their existing phone contacts, allowing them to immediately contact people also using the application by video or voice call or via message.
Users can also invite other contacts to download ToTok to allow them to make contact through the app.
TICKETS
Tickets start at Dh100 for adults, while children can enter free on the opening day. For more information, visit www.mubadalawtc.com.
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The Two Popes
Director: Fernando Meirelles
Stars: Anthony Hopkins, Jonathan Pryce
Four out of five stars
AGL AWARDS
Golden Ball - best Emirati player: Khalfan Mubarak (Al Jazira)
Golden Ball - best foreign player: Igor Coronado (Sharjah)
Golden Glove - best goalkeeper: Adel Al Hosani (Sharjah)
Best Coach - the leader: Abdulaziz Al Anbari (Sharjah)
Fans' Player of the Year: Driss Fetouhi (Dibba)
Golden Boy - best young player: Ali Saleh (Al Wasl)
Best Fans of the Year: Sharjah
Goal of the Year: Michael Ortega (Baniyas)
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MATCH INFO
Euro 2020 qualifier
Ukraine 2 (Yaremchuk 06', Yarmolenko 27')
Portugal 1 (Ronaldo 72' pen)
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Indika
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What went into the film
25 visual effects (VFX) studios
2,150 VFX shots in a film with 2,500 shots
1,000 VFX artists
3,000 technicians
10 Concept artists, 25 3D designers
New sound technology, named 4D SRL
