by President Donald Trump is heading to the Middle East this week, marking his first official diplomatic trip of his second term. But alongside his political agenda, attention is also turning to the Trump Organization’s rapidly expanding presence in the region. The family business, now led by sons Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., recently unveiled major real estate deals in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia—the same three countries included in Trump’s itinerary.
Trump Organization’s Middle East Expansion
Despite President Trump no longer holding direct control over the Trump Organization, the company continues to ink significant international deals, many of which raise ethics concerns due to the overlap with foreign governments.
Let’s break down the Trump Organization’s newest ventures in the three nations Trump is set to visit.
United Arab Emirates: 80-Story Trump Tower Coming to Dubai
In late April, the Trump Organization revealed plans for a towering 80-story Trump International Hotel & Tower in Dubai. The project is being developed in partnership with Dar Global, the international subsidiary of Saudi-based Dar Al Arkan. This new skyscraper will complement the existing Trump International Golf Club, which opened in 2017 shortly after Trump took office.
Qatar: Golf Course Deal Tied to State-Owned Entity
Also announced in April, the Trump Organization is partnering with Dar Global and Qatari Diar—a real estate firm owned by the Qatari government—to build a Trump International Golf Club in Simaisma, near Doha. The $5.5 billion project will feature:
- An 18-hole championship golf course
- Trump-branded luxury villas
- A private golf club
- Scenic views along four miles of Qatari coastline
Though the Trump Organization claims its deal is with Dar Global, the involvement of Qatari Diar, a state-owned firm, has sparked renewed scrutiny over Trump’s pledge to avoid new foreign government business during his second term.
Saudi Arabia: Multiple Projects in Jeddah and Riyadh
Saudi Arabia stands out as a key partner in the Trump Organization’s Middle East expansion. In December, the company announced plans for a 47-story Trump Tower in Jeddah, developed in collaboration with Dar Global. The luxury beachfront residential project is set for completion in 2029 and overlooks the Red Sea.
Additional Saudi-based ventures include two other real estate developments in Riyadh, all of which will carry the Trump name under licensing agreements while being fully operated by Dar Global.
Eric Trump, Executive VP of the Trump Organization, shared excitement over the partnerships, saying, “We are incredibly proud to expand the Trump brand into Qatar and Saudi Arabia through these exceptional collaborations.”
Ethical Questions Resurface
During a recent White House press briefing, when asked whether President Trump planned to handle any personal business during this Middle East trip, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt strongly denied any conflict of interest.
“It’s frankly ridiculous that anyone would suggest President Trump is doing anything for his own benefit,” she said.
Nevertheless, the timing of the trip and the Trump Organization’s concurrent business deals in the region continue to fuel debates over ethics and transparency in government.
