The extravagant ways Gulf leaders rolled out the red (and lavender) carpet for Trump, in photos

Children waved flags to welcome President Trump in the United Arab Emirates.Win McNamee/Getty ImagesTrump's trip to the Middle East was marked by lavish displays of wealth from oil-rich Gulf states.He was greeted with lavender carpets, processions of swordsmen and drummers, and lots of American flags.The White House says Trump secured several major deals with Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.President Donald Trump was courted like a king during his trip to the Middle East this week.From lush lavender carpets, to processions of camels, to the Burj Khalifa lighting up in stars and stripes, to ceremonial songs and dances, the countries of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates greeted the president with lavish displays of wealth and extravagance.Trump — who himself has a gold-gilded apartment modeled after the French Palace of Versailles, complete with a diamond-encrusted front door — seemed to love the royal treatment."As a construction guy, this is perfect marble," Trump said to Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, gesturing around him at a Qatari palace. "This is what they call perfecto. We appreciate those camels," he said. "I haven't seen camels like that in a long time. And really, we appreciate it very much."In the first overseas trip of his second term, the president visited the three oil-rich Persian Gulf countries in hopes of securing major deals with them — and on that promise, he seems to have mostly delivered.According to the White House, Saudi Arabia committed to investing $600 billion in the US (though details on the deals remain vague), Qatar agreed to an economic exchange worth at least $1.2 trillion, and the United Arab Emirates pledged over $200 billion in commercial deals with the US.Trump has also said he'd like to accept Qatar's offer of a jumbo jet, worth as much as $400 million, to use as his Air Force One — raising legal and ethical concerns from critics and MAGA loyalists alike.Here's a look inside Trump's grand welcomes in the Middle East.On his first leg of the trip, Trump was greeted by Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on a stretch of lavender carpet, flanked by members of the Saudi Royal Guard.Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman greeted Trump upon his arrival in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.Bandar Al-Jaloud/Saudi Royal Court/Anadolu via Getty ImagesA worker rushed to clean one of several lavender carpets ahead of Trump's arrival in Riyadh.A worker rushes to clean a lavender carpet in Saudi Arabia.Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty ImagesTrump met with the crown prince inside Riyadh's ornate Royal Court, beneath a looming portrait of King Salman.President Trump and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman flanked by representatives on either side.Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFPTrump's royal welcome in Riyadh included a luncheon and traditional coffee ceremony at the Royal Court.Uniformed staffers wait before a luncheon with Trump and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty ImagesSaudi men and drummers greeted Trump during his tour of Diriyah, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the ancestral home of the al Salman royal family.A group of men wait to greet Trump in the old district of Diriyah in Saudi Arabia.Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty ImagesQatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani greeted Trump in Doha alongside rows of armed guards, as some played musical instruments.Trump walks with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani in the capital of Doha.Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty ImagesA police Cyber Truck joined Trump's motorcade welcome in Qatar as he headed to the Royal Palace.A Tesla Cyber Truck escorted Trump's motorcade through Doha.Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty ImagesSkyscrapers throughout Doha, Qatar were lit up with the American flag to honor Trump's visit.One of several skyscrapers in Doha lit up with the American flag.Noushad Thekkayil/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesFlanked by the American and Qatari flags, Trump spoke to a crowd of US and Qatari service members at the Al Udeid Air Base in Doha.Trump spoke to a crowd of service members at the Al Udeid Air Base in Doha, Qatar.Win McNamee/Getty ImagesInside Qatar's grand Lusail Palace, Trump and Qatar's Emir greeted a line of guests arriving for a state dinner.A line of people wait to meet President Trump and Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad al Thani in Doha.Win McNamee/Getty ImagesA procession of honor guards on camels escorted Trump's motorcade to Qatar's Lusail Palace for a state dinner.A line of honor guard members on camels ahead of the state dinner at Qatar's Lusail Palace.Brian Snyder/REUTERSTrump received an extravagant welcome ceremony upon his arrival at Abu Dhabi's presidential palace in the United Arab Emirates.United Arab Emirates President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan greeted Trump with a welcome ceremony at the Qasr Al Watan Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi.Photo by Waleed Zein/Anadolu via Getty ImagesThe world's tallest building, Dubai's Burj Khalifa, lit up with an American flag in honor of Trump's visit to the country.The world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa, in Dubai just lit up in the American 🇺🇸 flag on the occasion of US President and delegation visit last night to the UAE. pic.twitter.com/DBulZ8oNeS— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) May 16, 2025 Crowds of children with gold head pieces waving American and Qatari flags greeted Trump at the UAE's presidential palace. A line of women also greeted Trump with a traditional dance where they flip their hair from side to side.Children wait to greet Trump in the UAE's presidential palace.Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty ImagesThe welcome ceremony in UAE continues! 🇺🇸🇦🇪 pic.twitter.com/sXqS1IboMN— Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) May 15, 2025 The UAE's president awarded Trump with the Order of Zayed, the state's highest civil decoration, to recognize his efforts to strengthen ties between the two countries.Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan presents Trump with Qatar's Order of Zayed.Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty ImagesTrump took a tour of the opulent Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi.Trump and the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khaled Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, tour the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.AP Photo/Alex BrandonRead the original article on Business Insider

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