President Donald Trump has announced a series of agreements worth over $200 billion between the United States and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). These agreements involve commitments from Boeing, GE Aerospace, and Etihad Airways. The White House has confirmed a $14.5 billion investment from Etihad Airways to purchase 28 US-manufactured Boeing 787 and 777X aircraft, which are powered by GE engines.
Etihad plans to expand its fleet by adding 20 to 22 new aircraft to its current fleet of about 100, with the goal of increasing the total number of planes to over 170 by 2030. This expansion supports Abu Dhabi’s economic diversification plan. Etihad is owned by the Abu Dhabi wealth fund ADQ and has gone through a restructuring and management rehaul over the years but has grown under CEO Antonoaldo Neves.
The Etihad deal follows Boeing’s largest-ever wide-body jet order, a $96 billion deal from Qatar. Trump’s Middle East trip, during which these deals were announced, has been controversial due to his plan to accept a $400 million luxury aircraft from Qatar as the new Air Force One. This has raised multiple concerns regarding the appropriateness of such a gift and the handling of the matter.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/15/trump-200bn-uae
