American expats welcome first US presidential visit in 17 years

THEY EXPRESS OPTIMISM ABOUT THE FUTURE OF US-UAE RELATIONS, TRADE

- BY SAJILA SASEENDRAN

American expats in the UAE have welcomed US President Donald Trump's visit to the country yesterday, the first US presidential visit in 17 years, calling it a symbol of growing strategic cooperation and a gateway to stronger bi-lateral ties in trade, technology, peace, and diplomacy.

Many American expats still recall the first and last US presidential visit to the UAE by George W. Bush in January 2008, when several roads including parts of Dubai’s iconic Shaikh Zayed Road were closed for his convoy’s movement.

Similar scenes were not repeated during President Trump’s visit as he is visiting only Abu Dhabi.

Expats hoped the focus will be on deepening strategic partnerships and advancing long-term regional goals.

During the UAE leg of his three-day visit to the Gulf countries, Trump met with the President His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and discussed investment opportunities in sectors such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, energy, and manufacturing.

Growing cooperation

For Steve Severance, a longtime UAE resident and former senior official at Masdar City, the visit is not just about ceremony but reflects how central the UAE has become to US foreign policy.