Agencies Abu Dhabi

US President Donald Trump arrived on Thursday in the United Arab Emirates from Qatar for the final leg of a Middle East tour that has so far yielded a diplomatic breakthrough with Syria and deals for US firms.

After landing in Abu Dhabi, Trump was greeted by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the ruler of the Emirates, and other dignitaries, as well as a military honour guard. The US has a preliminary agreement with the UAE to allow it to import 500,000 of Nvidia's most advanced AI chips a year, starting this year. UAE wants US help to make it a global leader in artificial intelligence.

Former President Joe Biden's administration had imposed strict oversight of exports of US AI chips to the Middle East and other regions. Among the Biden administration's fears were that the prized semiconductors would be diverted to China and buttress Beijing's military strength.

Trump has made improving ties with some Gulf countries a key goal of his administration. If all the proposed chip deals in Gulf states, and the UAE in particular, come together, the region would become a third power centre in global AI competition after the US and China.