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Tech takes centre stage

6 February 2025

Commentary
Colin Foreman
Editor

Read the February MEED Business Review

An incoming US president always presents new challenges for the region as leaders adjust to shifting policies emanating from Washington.

In 2025, the situation is different. It is the first time since Grover Cleveland in 1893 that a former US president has returned to office after a period away from the White House. In theory, this means that although the presidency has changed, it is a president the region has worked with before and should be familiar with.

In practice, Donald Trump proved unpredictable during his first term, with significant challenges emerging for the region. During his 2017-20 presidency, the Gulf diplomatic dispute with Qatar began, the nuclear deal with Iran was scrapped and the Abraham Accords were signed.

Trump also proved to be transactional and pro-business. During the early days of Trump 2.0, there have been clear signals that the new administration will have a different approach when dealing with big tech and the ever-expanding role of China in the global economy.

The Gulf has already identified that the tech sector plays to the region’s strengths and promises to solve many of its structural economic challenges. The region is rich in energy and capital and has begun to invest heavily in the expensive business of developing artificial intelligence (AI) and power-hungry data centres.

Both have already aligned with Trump 2.0, with Damac founder and chairman Hussain Sajwani committing $20bn to data centres across the US and Abu Dhabi-backed Stargate announcing $500bn of investment in AI in what Trump calls the largest AI deal in history by far.

The speed with which these deals were announced shows that the pragmatic business and political leaders in the Gulf have already responded to the change in administration at the White House. The challenge now shifts to maintaining the positive momentum with a president who is notoriously difficult to predict.

READ THE FEBRUARY MEED BUSINESS REVIEW

Trump unleashes tech opportunities; Doha achieves diplomatic prowess and economic resilience; GCC water developers eye uptick in award activity in 2025.

Published on 1 February 2025 and distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the February MEED Business Review includes:

> WATER & WASTEWATER: Water projects require innovation
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Colin Foreman

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