This tour marks the first major international trip undertaken by President Donald Trump during his second term in office. Scheduled between May 13 and 17, 2025, the visit includes stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
Donald Trump in Saudi Arabia, First Destination of His Middle East Tour – 13 May 2025, Anadolu Agency
The tour was officially announced on May 11, 2025, via a statement published on the White House’s official website. The statement confirmed that this would be President Trump’s first official overseas visit of his second term. The itinerary, set to last four days, includes visits to the cities of Riyadh, Doha, and Abu Dhabi.
Diplomatically, the tour has been conducted at the head-of-state level and has been organized with full ceremonial protocol by each host nation. Official statements emphasized that the trip had been planned “to strengthen strategic partnerships and reinforce regional security.” The United States delegation accompanying President Trump included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, and Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff.
The tour’s objectives have been grouped under three principal categories. First, it aims to increase inbound foreign direct investment from Gulf states into the United States, particularly by channeling capital into technology, energy, and manufacturing sectors through joint sovereign funds. Second, it seeks to establish regional coordination to limit Iran’s nuclear activities. Third, it involves diplomatic efforts to support ceasefire initiatives in the Gaza Strip and open humanitarian corridors. Within this framework, Saudi Arabia’s civil nuclear energy ambitions, defense cooperation with Qatar, and artificial intelligence partnerships with the United Arab Emirates have been listed as key agenda items.
Itinerary and Route
Donald Trump’s 2025 Middle East tour commenced on the morning of May 13 in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. As Air Force One approached King Khalid International Airport, it was escorted by Royal Saudi Air Force F-15 fighter jets. Upon landing, President Trump was welcomed directly by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The Riyadh leg of the visit included a private meeting between Trump and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, followed by the US-Saudi Investment Forum. The forum was expected to bring together executives from US-based corporations and representatives from the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia, with a focus on a variety of economic initiatives. Notable speakers scheduled to participate included Elon Musk, Larry Fink, and Jensen Huang.
Following the engagements in Riyadh, the next stop on the tour was expected to be Doha, the capital of Qatar. Meetings in Doha were set to address US-Qatar military relations and assess ongoing regional mediation efforts.
The final stop of the trip was scheduled for Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, where discussions would center on bilateral cooperation in the fields of energy investment and the defense industry. The total duration of the tour was planned to be four days, concluding on May 17.
Visit to Saudi Arabia – Day 1
On the morning of May 13, 2025, President Donald Trump arrived at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh aboard Air Force One. During the descent into Saudi airspace, the aircraft was escorted by Royal Saudi Air Force F-15 fighter jets. Upon landing, Trump was greeted directly by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The welcoming ceremony was held at the Royal Terminal, where a purple carpet was laid out and the flags of both nations were displayed.
Following the initial reception at the Royal Terminal, President Trump and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman proceeded to Al Yamamah Palace. Upon arrival, Trump’s motorcade was met by ceremonial guards on horseback bearing American and Saudi flags. At the palace entrance, an honor guard was saluted, and both leaders, accompanied by their respective delegations, entered the official reception hall.
Donald Trump in Saudi Arabia, First Destination of His Middle East Tour – 13 May 2025, Anadolu Agency
The schedule at Al Yamamah Palace included bilateral meetings set to begin at midday. The United States delegation was represented by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, and senior White House officials. The Saudi delegation, led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, included senior figures from the fields of economy, investment, and security.
Following the meetings, a large business luncheon was planned, with participation from senior executives of major US corporations. Among those announced were Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX; Stephen Schwarzman, CEO of Blackstone; and Larry Fink, CEO of BlackRock. Topics such as investment partnerships, energy cooperation, and artificial intelligence projects were expected to be discussed at the luncheon.
Prior to the US-Saudi Investment Forum, held at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh, extensive security measures were implemented. Armored police units, trained detection dogs, and barrier-protected checkpoints were deployed around the venue. Civilian access was restricted in the vicinity of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel and the palace compound adjacent to the conference site.
Later in the day, Trump and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman were scheduled to visit Dir’iyah and the At-Turaif UNESCO World Heritage Site. The day’s program was expected to conclude with an official state dinner, preceded by the signing of various economic and strategic agreements between the two countries. President Trump’s speech at the investment forum was scheduled to take place at the end of the day.
