In the United Arab Emirates, women threw their hair from side to side as part of a cultural performance Thursday to welcome President Trump. “What a stunning city! I adore it! After examining the performers at the UAE’s presidential palace, Qasr Al Watan, the President told reporters.
Trump passed through two rows of dozens of women wearing flowing white dresses and long dark hair during the palace presentation of the Al-Ayyala, a traditional performing art of the United Arab Emirates.
Behind them, guys yelled and hammered drums while the women flicked their hair wildly in sync. Margo Martin, the President’s Special Assistant and Communications Advisor, posted the video to X (previously Twitter) with the remark, “The welcome ceremony in UAE continues!”
During the performance, a number of males were also observed brandishing devices that resembled swords. The Al-Ayyala includes “chanted poetry, drum music and dance, and simulates a battle scene,” according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
“In the United Arab Emirates, girls wearing traditional dresses stand at the front, tossing their long hair from side to side,” according to UNESCO. In Oman and the United Arab Emirates, the Al-Ayyala is usually performed at weddings and other festive events.
The UAE has no legislation requiring women to cover their hair, unlike other Middle Eastern nations like Iran. During his tour to the Gulf, the Gulf states have been making every effort to impress him.
To everyone confused by the “hair swinging” ritual in Trump’s UAE visit:
That wasn’t random. That wasn’t a TikTok dance.
That was ancient. Intentional. Royal.
Here’s what it really meant:
The ritual is known in Gulf Arab culture especially in the UAE as part of a ceremonial… pic.twitter.com/RT1SYyqG8g
— 589bull (@589bull10000) May 16, 2025
Trump arrived in Saudi Arabia on Air Force One Tuesday morning, escorted by a six-fighter jet. The next day, he arrived in Qatar, accompanied by fighter planes and greeted with a Cybertruck convoy and a parade of camels.
Over $1 trillion in economic investment promises from the Gulf states have been obtained by the president during the tour, according to the White House. The POTUS is reportedly in the United Arab Emirates right now to help establish the affluent Gulf state as a leader in artificial intelligence worldwide.
For everyone asking what trump is walking through:
This is a hair dance native to the gulf. Historically done privately in all female environments but more recently becoming used as a symbol of gulf culture like in music videos and events. pic.twitter.com/GKUc1uN7TH
— Chelsea Hart ۴۰۳۰ (@chelseahartisme) May 15, 2025
The US and the UAE have reached a preliminary agreement that would enable the US to import 500,000 of Nvidia’s most cutting-edge AI chips every year starting this year, according to a report by The Economic Times. According to the article, this agreement is anticipated to hasten the nation’s endeavors to construct data centers that are necessary for the creation of AI models.
Donald Trump is currently on the last stop of his Gulf region tour, which is taking him through three countries. He went to Qatar after beginning his tour in Saudi Arabia. After that, he traveled to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where he made a commitment to deepening U.S.-UAE relations.
The president of the United States announced $200 billion in accords with the United Arab Emirates. Additionally, the two nations have decided to deepen their collaboration in the field of artificial intelligence.
