UAE bids farewell to US President Donald Trump
Military jets escort Trump’s aircraft out of the country’s airspace
ABU DHABI: US President Donald Trump departed the United Arab Emirates today, wrapping up a high-profile state visit that underscored deepening bilateral ties between the UAE and the United States.
The farewell ceremony took place at the Presidential Airport in Abu Dhabi and was led by UAE President and Ruler of Abu Dhabi His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The event marked the conclusion of a significant diplomatic engagement focused on strategic cooperation and technological advancement.
In attendance at the farewell were prominent UAE figures, including His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi; Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi and National Security Adviser; Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs; Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Office of Development and Martyrs Families Affairs at the Presidential Court; and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Special Affairs.
Other key officials present were Sheikh Zayed bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan; Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Advisor to the UAE President; Dr. Ahmed Mubarak Al Mazrouei, Chairman of the President’s Office for Strategic Affairs and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Office; Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority; and Yousef Al Otaiba, UAE Ambassador to the United States.
Jet escort departure
As President Trump’s aircraft departed, a formation of military jets escorted the plane. In a symbolic gesture, the squadron leader radioed the aircraft, requesting permission to accompany it until it exited UAE airspace – a nod to the ceremonial precision and respect extended to the visiting head of state.
Trump’s visit to the UAE marked the final stop in his Middle East tour. His arrival in Abu Dhabi was met with a ceremonial welcome at Qasr Al Watan, where he was officially received by President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Discussions between the two leaders centred on broadening cooperation in vital sectors such as artificial intelligence, investment, energy, and infrastructure.
AI campus unveiled
A landmark event during the visit was the launch of Phase 1 of the UAE-US Artificial Intelligence Campus, the largest AI-focused facility of its kind outside the United States. Located in Abu Dhabi, the new campus has an initial capacity of 5GW and is expected to serve as a cornerstone for the region’s digital infrastructure. The project aims to meet the data and compute needs of the Global South, providing latency-optimised services to nearly half the world's population.
To achieve this, the facility will operate on a hybrid power model that includes nuclear, solar, and gas energy. A dedicated science park within the campus will also serve as a hub for research and development in AI and other advanced technologies.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by both President Trump and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, signalling a shared commitment to technological progress. The campus is part of the broader US-UAE AI Acceleration Partnership, a strategic initiative focused on cooperation in emerging technologies, data infrastructure, and cloud services.
Strategic talks
Under the partnership, leading American hyperscalers and certified cloud providers will operate the new data centres and deliver regional services. The collaboration reflects a mutual interest in driving innovation, ensuring digital sovereignty, and enhancing regional competitiveness.
During the bilateral meetings, the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to peace and prosperity across the Middle East. The UAE-US alliance was once again highlighted as a key pillar of regional stability, with both countries pledging to continue joint efforts in defence, intelligence, and economic development.