Ambani to Qatar

The Gulf nation’s sovereign wealth fund, the Qatar Investment Agency (QIA), has invested about $1 billion in Mr. Ambani’s retail industry. File | Image source: PTI

Since Trump returned to the presidency in January this year, the wealthiest Asian Mukesh Ambani is flying to Doha to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Sources who are directly aware of the matter said Mr Ambani will attend the national dinner held by Mr Trump in Doha (May 14, 2025) in Doha, Emir of Qatar.

Mr. Ambani’s company, Reliance Industries Ltd., did not respond to an email sending comments.

Although business discussions are not on the table, his oil-to-retail group’s business is closely linked to the decision of the U.S. president.

Last year, Reliance obtained the exemption from the U.S. import of crude oil from Venezuela. However, it had to stop that after Mr. Trump authorized the 25% tariff on countries that bought oil in South America.

Reliance also sells fuels, such as gasoline made from crude oil purchased from countries such as Russia.

In addition, American tech giants such as Google and Meta have already occupied stakes in Mr. Ambani’s digital joint venture.

Reliance also has business contacts with Qatar. The Gulf nation’s sovereign wealth fund, the Qatar Investment Agency (QIA), has invested about $1 billion in Mr. Ambani’s retail industry.

Mr. Ambani and his wife Nita attended Mr. Trump’s second inauguration in January. They are also part of a select 100 people who attended an intimate candlelight dinner with Mr. Trump the day before the inauguration.

“At the dinner, the two also met Vice President JD Vance and his wife Usha,” the source said.

Ambanis has close ties with the Trump family.

When Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump visited Hyderabad in 2017 for the Global Entrepreneurs Summit.

He also attended when Mr. Trump was last served as U.S. president in February 2020.

Ms. Ivanka, her husband Jared Kushner and their eldest daughter Arabella Rose, are both celebrities who participated in March 2024, attending the three-day pre-wedding celebrations of Mr. Ambani’s youngest son Anant and fiance Fiancée Radhika.