US President Donald Trump on Thursday announced a series of business deals worth more than $200 billion between American companies and the United Arab Emirates, marking a major milestone in trade relations between the two nations.The agreement confirmed a $14.5 billion deal involving US aviation giants Boeing and GE Aerospace, and UAE’s national airline, Etihad Airways. The Abu Dhabi-based carrier confirmed on Friday that it will buy 28 wide-body Boeing aircraft, all powered by GE engines, as per Reuters.The aircraft, a mix of Boeing 787s and the next-generation 777X – will begin joining Etihad’s fleet from 2028, as the airline looks to modernise and expand its operations. The White House described the deal as a significant boost for US 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. “It fuels American manufacturing and drives exports.”Etihad said the order reflects its “ongoing approach to aligning its fleet with evolving network and operational needs.” The airline currently operates a fleet of around 100 aircraft.Etihad CEO Antonoaldo Neves, who has overseen the airline’s growth following a period of restructuring, said last month that the company plans to bring in 20 to 22 new aircraft this year alone. That includes ten Airbus A321LRs, six Airbus A350s, and four Boeing 787s. The A321LRs, unveiled earlier this week, are expected to enter service in August.The airline, which is owned by Abu Dhabi’s $225 billion sovereign wealth fund ADQ, aims to grow its fleet to more than 170 aircraft by 2030, supporting the UAE capital’s wider economic diversification plans.Meanwhile, Boeing also scored another major win this week with a separate deal in the Gulf. During Trump’s visit to Qatar, state carrier Qatar Airways placed firm orders for 160 wide-body jets, with options for 50 more, a deal the White House valued at $96 billion.
