Abu Dhabi Royal Family Invests in TikTok US Amid Trump-Approved Deal

The Abu Dhabi royal family is set to acquire a 15% stake in TikTok’s U.S. operations after Donald Trump approved an executive order facilitating a $14 billion deal. The investment is part of a broader move to ensure TikTok is operated under U.S. control, with significant stakes also held by Larry Ellison’s Oracle and private equity group Silver Lake. The deal is designed to address concerns over data privacy and national security, making TikTok’s U.S. operations largely American-owned. ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, will retain a 19.9% stake. Trump emphasized that the deal would secure American data and prevent foreign interference, although it’s still uncertain whether China will approve. The valuation of TikTok’s U.S. business is notably lower than its global valuation, which is estimated at $330 billion. The deal follows months of political pressure to separate TikTok from its Chinese roots and assuage concerns about user data security. Despite ongoing geopolitical tensions, the transaction has proceeded with the backing of both U.S. investors and Chinese officials, setting the stage for TikTok to continue operating in the U.S.