Abu Dhabi Royals Buy 15% Stake in TikTok US in $14bn Trump-Brokered Deal

The Abu Dhabi royal family, through the fund MGX chaired by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, is set to acquire a 15% stake in TikTok's US business as part of a $14 billion deal brokered by President Donald Trump via an executive order. This arrangement, which includes significant American investors such as Oracle, Silver Lake, Michael Dell, and Rupert Murdoch, ensures that over 65% of TikTok US will be controlled by American entities, with ByteDance retaining a 19.9% stake. The new ownership structure aims to address national security and data privacy concerns, with a seven-member board including cybersecurity and national security experts overseeing the platform. Trump emphasized that TikTok US will be majority-owned and controlled by Americans and praised the investors involved, while discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping reportedly supported the deal. US Vice President JD Vance highlighted that the deal safeguards American user data and keeps TikTok operational in the US despite resistance from China. The involvement of the UAE royal family, especially given Sheikh Tahnoon's national security role, adds a complex dimension to the ownership shift amid ongoing US-China tensions over the app.