Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani met US President Donald Trump during a state dinner hosted by the Emir of Qatar at Lusail Palace in Doha on May 15, 2025. Video footage from the event showed Ambani exchanging greetings with both President Trump and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani before attending the dinner. Ambani was also seen in a cordial conversation with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
This meeting marks Ambani’s second public encounter with Trump since the US President’s inauguration earlier this year. Ambani and his wife, Nita Ambani, had attended Trump’s inauguration and a private candlelit dinner with the President in January.
Reliance’s Business Links with the US and Qatar
Although the state dinner was primarily a diplomatic occasion without official business discussions, Reliance Industries has close ties with both the US and Qatar. In 2024, Reliance obtained waivers from the US government permitting crude oil imports from Venezuela, though it ceased after the US imposed tariffs on Venezuelan oil imports.
Reliance also exports fuels like gasoline to the American market, sourced from crude oil purchased from countries including Russia. Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund, the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), has invested nearly $1 billion in Reliance’s retail business. Earlier this year, Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim pledged $10 billion in investments across various sectors in India.
Trump’s Middle East Visit and Regional Diplomacy
President Trump’s Doha visit was part of a broader Middle East tour, which included stops in Saudi Arabia and meetings with key regional leaders. In Qatar, Trump encouraged the country to leverage its influence on Iran to facilitate negotiations aimed at limiting Iran’s nuclear program.
This diplomatic trip underscores the strategic and economic connections between the US, India, and Gulf nations, with key figures like Mukesh Ambani playing roles at the intersection of business and international relations.
