Trump Arrives in Riyadh to Begin Four-Day Gulf Tour Aimed at Securing Major Investment Deals

U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in Riyadh on Tuesday, kicking off a four-day tour of the Gulf region that is expected to result in multi-billion-dollar investment agreements between the United States and key Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.

In a display of military ceremony, at least three Royal Saudi Air Force F-15SA fighter jets escorted Air Force One as it approached King Khalid International Airport. The dramatic flyby was captured in footage shared by Dan Scavino, Assistant to the President, on his official X account.

Upon landing, President Trump was greeted on the tarmac by Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. The two leaders held a brief meeting at the airport, joined by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Discussions focused on regional cooperation and the economic and strategic partnership between Riyadh and Washington.

The centerpiece of Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia is his participation in the Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum, scheduled to take place today at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh. The event brings together senior officials and top executives from major U.S. corporations, including BlackRock, Citigroup, IBM, and Alphabet.

The forum is expected to highlight new economic initiatives and joint ventures, reinforcing the deepening commercial and investment ties between the U.S. and Gulf economies. Officials from both countries have hinted at a number of high-value deals across sectors such as energy, technology, infrastructure, and defense.

Trump’s visit comes at a time when Gulf states are pushing forward with large-scale diversification plans, including Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which seeks to reduce dependence on oil by fostering investment in other industries. The presence of prominent American business leaders underscores the strategic importance of U.S. involvement in the region’s economic transformation.

After concluding his engagements in Saudi Arabia, Trump is expected to continue his tour with stops in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. Each leg of the visit will include high-level meetings aimed at strengthening economic, defense, and diplomatic cooperation.

The trip marks Trump’s second official visit to the Gulf since taking office for a second term, reflecting the administration’s intent to solidify U.S. influence in the region while promoting American commercial interests abroad.