Mukesh Ambani, Asia’s richest man, is visiting Qatar to meet US President Donald Trump during a state dinner hosted by the Emir of Qatar at Lusail Palace. This marks Ambani’s second meeting with Trump since his return to the presidency in January 2025. While no formal business discussions are scheduled, Reliance Industries’ global operations—ranging from oil imports to digital ventures with US tech giants—are closely linked to American policy. The Ambani-Trump relationship spans several years, including meetings in India, the US, and shared participation in high-profile events.
Mukesh Ambani, Asia’s richest man and chairman of Reliance Industries, flew to Doha, Qatar, this week to attend a state dinner hosted in honor of US President Donald Trump. The dinner, held at Lusail Palace by the Emir of Qatar, marked Ambani’s second meeting with Trump since the latter’s return to the White House in January 2025.
Though no formal business discussions are planned, the visit is significant given Reliance’s extensive global operations, particularly those that intersect with US foreign and trade policy. From energy imports and fuel exports to digital partnerships with American tech giants, Ambani’s business empire is deeply intertwined with decisions coming out of Washington.
Reliance’s Strategic Position in Global Trade
Reliance had previously secured US waivers to import crude oil from Venezuela, but was forced to halt operations after Trump re-imposed sanctions, authorizing a 25% tariff on oil trade with the South American nation. Additionally, the company exports fuels like gasoline refined from imported crude—some of which comes from countries under US watch—into the American market.
Ambani’s digital venture, Jio Platforms, has drawn investment from US tech giants like Google and Meta, further cementing financial ties between his conglomerate and American firms. These relationships place Reliance in a sensitive but strategic position, especially amid fluctuating geopolitical currents.
Strengthening Ties with Qatar
Ambani’s relationship with Qatar is also commercially significant. The Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), the country’s sovereign wealth fund, has invested nearly USD 1 billion into Reliance Retail, one of the group’s fastest-growing businesses.
The meeting with Trump in Doha comes against this backdrop of mutual strategic interest among India, the US, and Gulf nations.
A Long-Standing Relationship
Ambani and his wife Nita were among the elite few invited to attend Trump’s second presidential inauguration in January 2025. They also participated in an intimate candlelight dinner held the night before the inauguration, attended by top political figures including US Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha.
The Ambanis’ ties with the Trump family go back years. Mukesh Ambani was present during Ivanka Trump’s 2017 visit to Hyderabad for the Global Entrepreneurship Summit when she served as an advisor to the President. He also hosted Ivanka, her husband Jared Kushner, and their daughter Arabella at the pre-wedding celebrations of his son Anant Ambani in Jamnagar earlier this year.
A Strategic, Non-Business Meeting
While this latest meeting in Qatar is described as ceremonial with no formal business agenda, it reflects the strategic and personal rapport that the Ambani family has cultivated with the Trump administration over time. The setting also reaffirms Reliance’s standing on the global stage, bridging diplomacy, business, and personal relationships.
As Reliance continues to expand its global reach across energy, retail, and technology, such interactions—even informal—signal the deep integration of Indian conglomerates into the web of global political and economic alliances.
