'Trump is our hope for peace': US residents in UAE buoyed by landmark visit

14-05-2025

Live updates: Follow the latest on Trump's Gulf trip It's hardly a heartland for the MAGA faithful, but the tens of thousands of US citizens that call the UAE home will watch closely when Donald Trump touches down in Abu Dhabi on Thursday. As with everywhere the US President goes, he divides 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. They told The National they see great promise in Mr Trump selecting the Gulf as the first foreign stop of his second term in office, believing this will drive up investment and tighten bonds between countries. The four-day visit began on Tuesday in Riyadh, with stops in Doha and Abu Dhabi scheduled for this week amid high hopes that talks will be fruitful. 'I feel like if there is any hope for peace, it will be with Trump," said Darlene Tezdiker, 56, from Florida, who teaches adults English and has lived in the UAE for more than a decade. "I hope there will be stronger trade and that all talks are productive. '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. The US and he already have a stable relationship with the UAE and he has deep respect for the leadership. 'As an American, I'm very proud that our country is viewed positively so I hope he can keep that image intact and that he stays on point,' she added. Mr Trump's visit is being closely watched amid the Israel-Hamas war and US tension with Iran. Marc Sievers, a retired US diplomat, listed talks on the Iranian nuclear issue, the Gaza war and economic deals as top of the agenda. 'President Trump has been quite clear that while he would consider Iran maintaining a civilian nuclear programme, their enrichment capabilities and ballistic missile capabilities must be dismantled,' said Mr Sievers, the US ambassador to Oman in 2016. "I find it hard to believe Iran will accept this approach, so that's issue number one as the Gulf states don't want a military option. 'And the next is what can be done to bring this violent phase of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to an end.' The Gulf region has not been badly hit by President Trump's tariffs announced earlier this year, with 10 per cent levies proving much lower than tariffs set on other Middle Eastern countries. Artificial intelligence, advanced technology and energy deals are expected to dominate the headlines. 'Opportunities in trade and investment, commitments to large investments in the American economy – this is obviously close to the US President's heart,' Mr Sievers said. "He wants to be able to show before next year's midterm elections that his economic policies are successful." The strength of US ties with the Gulf is expected to be another key message. Riyadh was Mr Trump's first official port of call also during his first presidential term and he is only the second US president after George W Bush in 2008 to visit the Emirates. 'The Gulf is the centre of the Arab world, maybe not in population, but in terms of wealth and influence, and also on the world stage,' Mr Sievers said. 'Many important things make the Gulf, not just economically but politically and diplomatically, a world centre. "We had two rounds of nuclear negotiations between the United States and Iran, held in Oman. The UAE is involved in prisoner-related exchanges between Russia and Ukraine, and we had discussions on Ukraine held in Riyadh. This is the centre of the region and important to the US.' Crypto entrepreneur Rahul Sethuram, 37, says deeper co-operation will benefit people in both countries. 'The UAE has resources, a lot of talent and it would be good for the US to maintain a strong relationship, especially because this region is heavily investing in the deep tech space.' As the US President's visit progresses, Americans are constantly being asked for their take on their colourful and controversial leader. 'People ask, 'Oh my God, what do you feel about Trump, can you believe he said this or that?' Mr Sethuram added. 'There is a big spectacle, almost like watching like a reality show. But I do still have some optimism that he has a good long-term vision, he approaches issues very differently than other politicians.'

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UAE and US working to 'get chips moving' after AI deal

The National

26 minutes ago

The National

UAE and US working to 'get chips moving' after AI deal

After this week's debut of the White House's Artificial Intelligence Action Plan, the UAE is ready to expedite its AI partnership with the US. This follows President Donald Trump's visit to Abu Dhabi in May, when he announced the US-UAE AI Acceleration Partnership, which included plans for a 5GW UAE-US AI Campus. Those plans allow for the UAE to obtain powerful CPUs and GPUs from the US which are necessary to build up AI infrastructure. Once completed, part of the campus, dubbed Stargate UAE, will be among the largest AI data centres in the world. Security guarantees to protect the UAE AI technology from falling into the wrong hands were are major aspect of the deal. Also bolstering the deal, Mr Trump's much-anticipated AI plan, unveiled on Wednesday, seeks to reduce regulatory barriers in place to build up AI infrastructure in the US, while pushing for increasing the prevalence of US AI technology around the world. That bodes well for the UAE, and other countries with similar AI aspirations. It's also a sharp contrast to the former president Joe Biden's policies. His administration sought tighter export controls on US chips to prevent them from being used in China. 'The UAE welcomes President Trump's AI Action Plan and is ready to fast track our strategic AI partnership with the US,' Yousef Al Otaiba, UAE Minister of State and ambassador to the US, said on Wednesday. 'As a trusted partner, we are working closely with leading US companies to adopt and scale American technology in the UAE and beyond.' Some pundits aren't sold however, and they're trying to exert influence to slow the US-UAE AI Acceleration Partnership. In an opinion article in The Washington Post, Christopher Chivvis and Sam Winter-Levy from the Carnegie Endowment, a US-based think tank, expressed concern about China somehow getting access to the US AI technology, among other things. 'To now approve the offshoring of the data centres that will house so many of the resulting chips to another conflict-prone region would be a major unforced error – one that will prove difficult to reverse,' they wrote. The UAE has addressed this by committing to a $1.4 trillion investment framework for AI infrastructure in the US. Regardless, the Wall Street Journal also reported that some in the White House have sought to take a closer look at the recently announced UAE deal, amid concerns about US technology diffusion. But last week, the White House cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence adviser beat back those concerns, and reaffirmed the US partnership with the UAE. 'These are countries that are long-standing partners and allies of the US going back many years,' White House AI chief David Sacks said during a round-table discussion at the Pennsylvania Energy and AI Summit, referring to the UAE. Mr Sacks added that the Trump administration thought that if US technology wasn't used in AI projects around the world, China-owned Huawei would step in to fill the vacuum. 'We don't want to create demand for Huawei,' he explained, also describing some of the chip smuggling scenarios that have become prevalent in media reports as quixotic. He said the newest standard data centres technology hardware is approximately 2.4m tall, with servers weighing 1,600kg, and that it's 'very easy to see' if they're being transported. 'I know that our Gulf State partners would honour our security agreement,' he said just hours before President Trump appeared at the event in Pennsylvania. 'This is ultimately a trust-but-verify situation, and all we have to do is send an inspector to a data centre and they can count the racks,' Mr Sacks explained, reiterating that he felt the scenarios of AI hardware smuggling were 'blown wildly out of proportion.' Meanwhile, there's no indication from the White House or Department of Commerce, which is ultimately responsible for allowing the export of US technology, that criticism of the UAE deal is gaining traction. In a statement to The National, the UAE ambassador expressed continued optimism about the AI plans with the US announced back in May. 'Signed just 60 days ago in Abu Dhabi, the UAE-US investment and Ai partnership will deliver enormous benefits to both countries,' Mr Al Otaiba said. 'High level teams have been actively engaging to advance the agreement, to get chips moving and to accelerate technology co-operation.'

Zawya

2 hours ago

Zawya

Anna Ochigbo Appointed Creative Director of Affluenz Magazine

Affluenz Magazine ( has announced the appointment of Anna Ochigbo as its new Creative Director, marking a significant step in the evolution of the globally recognized publication as it deepens its editorial presence and expands its influence across luxury, leadership, and culture. Ochigbo, who also serves as Executive Director at Dotmount Communications, the Washington DC based parent company of Affluenz, brings to the role a distinguished background in media strategy, creative leadership, and brand development. Her appointment follows the successful release of the magazine's July and August 2025 issue, which pays tribute to the legacy of the founding father of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, while profiling some of Africa's most influential cultural and business leaders. In her new role, Ochigbo will direct the magazine's overall visual and editorial identity. Her responsibilities include curating covers, guiding cross platform storytelling, and ensuring each edition reflects Affluenz's core mission of showcasing global excellence, innovation, and influence. Adedotun Olaoluwa, Founder and Executive Publisher of Affluenz Magazine, described her appointment as both timely and transformative. Anna possesses a rare creative intuition and an unmatched ability to craft visual narratives that resonate globally. Her leadership comes at a crucial moment as we reimagine Affluenz for a more interconnected, sophisticated, and culturally dynamic audience, Olaoluwa said. Beyond her achievements in luxury publishing, Ochigbo played a central role in coordinating Dotmount Communications' flagship event, the Middle East Investors Expo held in 2024, which convened investors, policymakers, and innovators from across the Middle East and Africa. Under her leadership, the event received global media attention and positioned Dotmount as a trusted platform for strategic investment communications. Ochigbo is also deeply committed to humanitarian work. She plays a leading role in supporting the Hoplites African Aid Foundation (HAAF), a vibrant nonprofit organization dedicated to uplifting communities across Africa through a multifaceted approach that goes beyond traditional health interventions. Originally established in April 2021 as the Hoplites Sickle Cell Foundation, HAAF has since evolved into a broader movement championing sustainable healthcare access, inclusive education, and community development for underserved populations. Her portfolio extends to international campaigns in culture, philanthropy, and executive branding, where she has earned recognition for fusing luxury aesthetics with meaningful, high impact content. In a statement following her appointment, Ochigbo shared her excitement about shaping the creative future of the magazine. Affluenz is more than a magazine. It is a celebration of legacy, innovation, and global identity. I am honored to lead its creative direction at a time when storytelling must be both beautiful and bold. We will not just reflect excellence, we will help define it, she said. Her first issue as Creative Director is now on sale, featuring a curated selection of in depth profiles, essays, and visual stories that highlight global influence across business, diplomacy, culture, and philanthropy. Press Contact Email: info@ info@ Website:

UAE has hosted more than 17,600 Afghan evacuees since 2021

The National

3 hours ago

The National

UAE has hosted more than 17,600 Afghan evacuees since 2021

Almost four years since the Taliban took power following the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, UAE authorities have provided details of how many Afghans it has hosted. The UAE has spent almost Dh1.35 billion ($367.6 million) hosting Afghan refugees before relocating them to other countries since 2021, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. There have been 17,619 Afghans hosted in Emirates Humanitarian City in Abu Dhabi since there were widespread evacuations after the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan, two decades after they were toppled by the US and Nato. The assistance covered all the needs of Afghan citizens − including health care, logistical and diplomatic services, communications, shelter and food − ensuring comfort, a dignified life and well-being, said a statement from the ministry released on Thursday. EHC also provided services related to departure procedures, with 17 offices opened for the embassies of the countries to where Afghans were seeking relocation. School transport was also provided, along with on-site education and training courses. Almost 2,600 Afghans benefitted from training and professional development workshops, the ministry added. 'The UAE has spared no effort in assisting the Afghan people, being at the forefront of countries that have initiated support for Afghanistan,' said the ministry. 'This reflects its humanitarian mission, which is based on the values of giving, charitable work, spreading peace and consolidating coexistence, tolerance, and the principles of human fraternity. 'It also promotes solidarity with peoples during the most difficult circumstances and crises facing countries. 'The focus on caring for people and preserving their dignity has been a constant approach in the UAE's journey since its founding, regardless of ethnic, religious, or geographical backgrounds and in line with its noble humanitarian principles. It has become a global symbol of humanitarian giving and sustainable good.' A US news outlet reported earlier this month that the UAE was preparing to send a small number of evacuees back to Afghanistan in July.