Mohamed bin Zayed meets former US Presidents Donald Trump and George Bush as part of official trip

During his first official trip to the US since assuming the UAE Presidency, HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed met former US President Donald Trump on Thursday. He emphasised that the UAE-US bilateral relations have flourished for more than 50 years thanks to their partnership.

His Highness expressed his appreciation for Trump’s efforts to strengthen the bilateral strategic partnership. Earlier, he and former US President George Bush also engaged in several meticulous discussions, recalling the latter’s historic visit to the UAE in 2008.

The UAE leader hailed Bush’s role in enhancing the UAE-US relations during his time in office. The former US leader also expressed his pleasure to be meeting again His Highness and having the opportunity to reflect on key milestones in the bilateral ties.

Sheikh Mohamed also highlighted the important role of Bush’s late father in solidifying the UAE-US friendship and partnership. He noted that President Bush Snr had been “a friend of the UAE and an ally to the region during a most difficult period.”

UAE President meets Biden, Harris and big tech CEOs

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed’s ongoing official trip to the US comes at a critical period as the Middle East crisis continues to grab headlines across the globe and the upcoming US presidential election 2024 turns even more interesting.

The UAE leader met US vice president Kamala Harris – also the Democratic presidential nominee – to discuss the longstanding UAE-US strategic partnership. Both sides talked about several regional and international issues of mutual concern.

His Highness also met big tech CEOs during the trip, including Satya Nadella of Microsoft, Larry Fink of BlackRock and Jensen Huang of Nvidia. They discussed the rapid advancements in modern technology and artificial intelligence, analysing the UAE-US collaboration.

Trade and investment a major part of UAE-US bilateral relations

In other important meetings held during the Emirati leader’s US visit, Sheikh Mohamed also met several US senators to discuss avenues to enhance UAE-US relations across various sectors. Key focus areas included the economy, climate action and technology.

On the sidelines of the trip, both countries signed an important agreement that seeks to enhance bilateral cooperation in customs matters. Moreover, it aims to boost economic, trade and customs cooperation, according to reports.

Trade and investment has been a major part of the official visit. In 2023, UAE imports from the US reached $25.9 billion, up from $21.3 billion the year before. UAE exports to the US increased from $3.2 billion in 2022 to $3.9 billion in 2023, as per official figures.