Trump Arrives in Saudi Arabia to Secure $1 Trillion in Business Deals

U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, beginning a four-day tour of the Gulf region that will also include stops in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

Saudi fighter jets escorted Air Force One as Trump landed in the capital Riyadh.

The primary focus of this trip is to secure major economic and business deals, with secondary attention to regional security issues such as Iran and the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Trump is accompanied by a high-profile delegation of American business leaders, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, and Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser.

Saudi Arabia welcomed President Trump with great ceremony on Tuesday, featuring an honor guard, a procession of Arabian horses, and a delegation of royals and business leaders to mark the start of his four-day Gulf tour, the first major international trip of his second term.

President Trump disembarked from Air Force One at the Royal Terminal of King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, where Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman greeted him on a royal purple carpet. The two leaders then proceeded to a lavish, sunlit hall with marble columns, seated comfortably in navy-and-gold armchairs for their initial discussions.

#TrumpInKSA 🇸🇦🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/ynenOvF3Fv

— Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) May 13, 2025

@X CEO Elon Musk with His Highness the Crown Prince MBS 🇸🇦 and the US President 🇺🇸 in Riyadh.

This came during official reception ceremony held for #US President @realDonaldTrump at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh #TrumpVisit2025.#ترامب #ترامب_في_السعودية #TrumpinRiyadh… pic.twitter.com/ACcwoKR9LJ

— سعود حافظ | Saud Hafiz (@saudrahman27) May 13, 2025

Trump is participating in a summit of Gulf Arab leaders Tuesday before heading to Qatar.

“While energy remains a cornerstone of our relationship, the investments and business opportunities in the kingdom have expanded and multiplied many, many times over,” Saudi Investment Minister Khalid al-Falih said as he opened the forum.

“As a result … when Saudis and Americans join forces very good things happen, more often than not great things happen when those join ventures happen,” he said before Trump’s arrival.

As reported the key topics on Trump’s visit’s agenda include:

Business Deals and Investments

• The trip centres on the Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum in Riyadh, where Trump aims to secure up to $1 trillion in new investments from Saudi Arabia, building on a previous pledge of $600 billion.

• The discussions are expected to result in announcements of large-scale investments and business partnerships, reflecting the expanding economic ties between the U.S. and Gulf states beyond traditional energy cooperation.

Oil and Energy

• Energy remains a “cornerstone” of the U.S.-Saudi relationship, but the scope of cooperation is broadening to include advanced technology, trade, and investment.

• Trump is expected to discuss oil production levels, with the aim of encouraging Saudi Arabia to increase output to help lower global oil prices, benefiting American consumers.

Arms and Defense Deals

• Trump is set to propose a substantial arms package to Saudi Arabia, valued at over $100 billion, which may include advanced military equipment such as C-130 transport aircraft.

• These deals reflect a continuation of the robust security partnership established during Trump’s first term, which saw significant arms sales and close ties with Saudi leadership.

Iran and Regional Security

• While economic issues dominate the agenda, the visit takes place amid heightened tensions over Iran’s nuclear program and ongoing negotiations between the U.S. and Iran in Oman.

• Trump has warned of possible military action against Iran if diplomatic efforts to limit its nuclear ambitions fail, but he has also described recent talks with Iranian officials as “very reasonable” and “intelligent”.

• Saudi Arabia’s pursuit of a civilian nuclear program, with potential U.S. support, is also on the table, although previous U.S. backing was linked to Saudi normalization with Israel-a topic likely to be downplayed during this visit.

Other Geopolitical Issues

• Trump is advocating for a new aid framework for Gaza and encouraging a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, though these issues are not the primary focus of his Gulf tour.

• The trip may include a potential detour to Turkey for discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, as part of wider efforts to address the conflict in Ukraine1.

Business and Personal Ties

• The Trump family’s business interests in the Middle East have expanded significantly since his first term, raising concerns among critics about potential conflicts of interest, which the Trump family denies.

• Trump has a history of strong personal and business relationships with Gulf Arab leaders, which may facilitate negotiations for new trade and investment agreements