In a first-of-its-kind moment, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi was closed to the public to welcome US President Donald Trump during his official visit to the United Arab Emirates.White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt posted on X: “US President Trump at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi. They shut down the Mosque for his special visit — the first time it has ever been closed for anyone in history.Historic moment!”The visit began with a solemn tribute at the mausoleum of the UAE’s Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Accompanied by Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Trump paused to reflect on Sheikh Zayed’s legacy, which the UAE says continues to promote global values of tolerance, coexistence and peace.Trump’s delegation then toured the mosque’s grand halls and courtyards, where they were given insights into how the landmark serves as a centre for intercultural dialogue and understanding among diverse religions and civilisations, reports Arab News. They were also briefed on the work of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre, which aims to promote Islamic values and cross-cultural exchange on a global level.Burj Khalifa donned in American colours The visit formed part of Trump’s broader Middle East tour, which began in Saudi Arabia and Qatar earlier in the week. He arrived in Abu Dhabi, where he was received at the airport by UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.That evening, the Burj Khalifa lit up in red, white, and blue, the colours of the US flag, in celebration of the visit.Leavitt described the visit as a “historic return to the Middle East”Bilateral ties between the UAE and US were first established in the 1970s. Since then, the two countries have expanded cooperation across sectors including security, trade, energy, education, space exploration, and artificial intelligence.Trump’s return visit also comes in the context of billion-dollar pledges secured earlier in his tour and is seen as an effort to deepen cooperation on development, economy, and strategic interests.According to the UAE Ministry of Economy, non-oil trade between the two countries reached $32.8 billion in 2024, with the US ranking as the UAE’s sixth-largest global trading partner and the top partner outside Asia.The UAE is also a major investor in the US, with estimated investments totalling $1 trillion across industries such as aviation, manufacturing, clean energy and advanced technologies.Observers say Trump choosing the Gulf as his first stop again shows the region is still important for US foreign policy and business ties.
