U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in the United Arab Emirates on Thursday, marking the third and final stop of his Gulf tour. With this visit, he becomes only the second American president to visit the UAE, following former President George W. Bush’s trip in 2008. He was welcomed upon arrival by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The visit is being described as a pivotal moment in the longstanding U.S.-UAE relationship, which spans more than five decades. It reflects the shared ambition of both nations to elevate their strategic partnership and expand cooperation in key areas including security, defense, economics, and technology.

Speaking earlier in Qatar, President Trump said, “Today, I’m heading to the UAE, a nation with a great leader,” referring to Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called the visit “a historic return to the Middle East,” while analysts noted that Trump’s decision to begin his second-term foreign travel in the Gulf underscores Washington’s growing recognition of the region’s strategic importance on both regional and global fronts.