Abu Dhabi royals join TikTok US ownership as Trump clears $14 billion sale

Under the revised deal, U.S. investors will own just over 65% of TikTok US—led by Oracle, Silver Lake, and others—while ByteDance retains a 19.9% minority stake, complying with a 2024 law requiring reduced Chinese control

A fund linked to the Abu Dhabi royal family is set to acquire a stake in TikTok’s U.S. business, following U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive order that greenlights the sale of the platform’s American operations to a consortium of U.S. and global investors.

The deal, which values TikTok’s U.S. entity at $14 billion, allows a 120-day window for completion and regulatory approvals. Trump confirmed he had discussed the matter with Chinese President Xi Jinping, stating that Xi gave his informal approval. “We talked about TikTok, and he gave us the go-ahead,” Trump said during the signing ceremony.

UAE’s MGX to join U.S. consortium with 15% stake

One of the major new investors is MGX, a fund chaired by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan — the UAE’s national security adviser and a key figure in the country’s financial ecosystem. MGX is expected to take a 15% stake in TikTok US and secure a board seat once the deal is finalized, according to The Guardian.

In total, American investors are projected to hold just over 65% of the U.S. business. Tech giants and investment groups like Oracle, Silver Lake, Michael Dell, and Rupert Murdoch are also involved, collectively accounting for roughly 45% of ownership. Trump emphasized that TikTok US “will be majority-owned and controlled by United States persons and will no longer be controlled by any foreign adversary.”

ByteDance to retain minority stake amid regulatory hurdles

Chinese parent company ByteDance will retain a 19.9% minority share in the U.S. entity, as permitted under the revised deal. The structure is designed to meet requirements under a 2024 U.S. law mandating divestment from Chinese ownership for certain tech platforms, which was passed with bipartisan support.

Despite the apparent progress, China has yet to issue an official response or confirm regulatory approval. The U.S. valuation remains far below ByteDance’s global estimated worth of $330 billion.