Overview
- Company documents show Aryam Investment 1, backed by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, agreed on Jan. 16, 2025 to purchase a 49% stake in World Liberty Financial, with Eric Trump signing on the company’s behalf.
- About $250 million was due upfront, including roughly $187 million to Trump family entities and at least $31 million to entities tied to co-founder Steve Witkoff’s family, with another $31 million to co-founders Zak Folkman and Chase Herro.
- Aryam became the largest outside shareholder and placed two executives with senior roles at Tahnoon-linked G42 on World Liberty’s five-member board.
- Following post-election meetings, the administration later agreed to allow the UAE access to around 500,000 advanced U.S. AI chips annually, with a portion directed to G42, according to the reporting.
- World Liberty and the White House say neither President Trump nor Steve Witkoff were involved in the deal and deny any conflicts, as lawmakers including Sen. Elizabeth Warren call for congressional and regulatory inquiries.