President Donald Trump on Thursday unveiled a series of business agreements totaling more than $200 billion between the United States and the United Arab Emirates, including a $14.5 billion aviation deal involving Boeing, GE Aerospace, and Etihad Airways.
According to a statement from the White House, Etihad Airways committed to purchasing 28 U.S.-made aircraft from Boeing—specifically the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and the next-generation 777X models. The planes will be powered by engines from GE Aerospace. While neither Etihad nor the U.S. aerospace firms immediately commented on the deal, the White House emphasized the move as a major boost to American manufacturing and exports.
“With the inclusion of the next-generation 777X in its fleet plan, the investment deepens the longstanding commercial aviation partnership between the UAE and the United States,” the White House said in a statement.
The announcement follows Etihad’s ongoing fleet expansion under CEO Antonoaldo Neves, who said last month the airline plans to add between 20 and 22 new aircraft this year. Etihad is aiming to grow its fleet to more than 170 planes by 2030 as part of a broader strategy to support Abu Dhabi’s economic diversification.
Among the planned acquisitions for 2024 are 10 Airbus A321LRs, which began service this week, as well as six Airbus A350s and four Boeing 787s. Etihad’s restructuring efforts over recent years have set the stage for renewed growth under Neves’s leadership. The airline is owned by Abu Dhabi’s state investment fund, ADQ, which manages assets of around $225 billion.
The UAE deal was one of several announced during President Trump’s recent Middle East visit. On Wednesday, the White House revealed that Boeing had secured its largest widebody aircraft order to date, with Qatar Airways agreeing to purchase 160 jetliners and options for 50 more. That deal is valued at $96 billion.
The string of agreements signals deepening commercial ties between the U.S. and Gulf states, with the White House highlighting them as key victories for American industry and job creation. The deals come amid efforts by Gulf carriers to expand globally and modernize their fleets, while supporting economic diversification away from oil dependency.
