Inside the Trump Organisation's Multi-Billion-Dollar Real Estate Expansion Across the Arabian Gulf

The Trump Organisation is rapidly expanding its property empire across the Arabian Gulf, with six projects worth billions of dollars under development in four countries, as the US President’s brand deepens its foothold in one of the world’s most lucrative real-estate markets.

The group, which launched its first Gulf project with UAE developer Damac in 2017, has projects under way in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Oman. These span golf courses, hotels and luxury residences in Dubai, Riyadh, Jeddah, Doha and Muscat. All six projects are being developed with Dar Global, the international property arm of Saudi Arabia-listed Dar Al Arkan.

In an interview with The National in 2024, Trump Organisation executive vice president Eric Trump said “the region loves our family, and the region loves our projects”. “We were one of the first western brands to go into Dubai when no one else really believed, and everybody was a little sceptical, and everybody was a little cynical,” he said. “We planted the Trump flag right there in the middle of the city. We did one of the greatest golf courses that's become, by far, the most successful golf venture anywhere in the Middle East … we’ve had such a great relationship with this region for so long, and I think we're going to keep on expanding.”

Three projects are being built in Saudi Arabia: two in Jeddah and another in the capital, Riyadh, at Wadi Safar, in partnership with Diriyah Company. They consist of a combination of Trump-branded golf courses, international hotels and premium residences, including apartments and town houses. The projects are scheduled for completion between 2029 and 2030.

Demand for homes in Saudi Arabia is projected to rise as it prepares to host the Fifa World Cup in 2034 and the World Expo in 2030. The Arab world’s largest economy is looking to boost home ownership for Saudi nationals as part of its Vision 2030 initiative. It has also opened the property sector to foreign ownership, which is expected to further increase demand.

The Trump Organisation also launched a project in Qatar last year. The development in Doha covers about 790,000 square metres within the eight million-square metre Simaisma development, with an 18-hole Trump International Golf Course, a Trump Golf Clubhouse, and branded villas.

In the UAE, the Trump Organisation and Dar Global are developing the $1 billion Trump Tower on Dubai's Sheikh Zayed Road. As well as 500 homes, the 80-storey development will have a Trump-branded hotel and an exclusive private members' club. The project is 80 per cent sold to a combination of regional and global investors.

Property prices across the UAE continue to rise but the pace has slowed due to geopolitical tensions. Dubai residential prices, grew by about 1.9 per cent annually in the second quarter of this year, with apartment prices increasing by 1.3 per cent and villas by 5.7 per cent, consultancy CBRE said.

The Trump Organisation and Dar Global are also expanding in Oman, with the development of a resort in the capital, Muscat, that will consist of villas, a hotel and a golf course.

The new Arabian Gulf developments are helping to boost Trump Organisation revenue, official data shows. In a mandatory filing to the US Office of Government Ethics this year, President Donald Trump and the Trump Organisation reported that developers paid them $38 million in licensing fees for projects in Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Donald Trump reported about $21.9 million in revenue from Dar Al Arkan last year, about the same as he reported in his 2024 financial disclosure. Included in the most recent filing is $5.25 million that he received as a licence fee from an upcoming golf club and resort project in Doha. The financial disclosure also showed that the US President reported millions of dollars in income from UAE developer Damac.

Dar Global, listed on the London Stock Exchange, had a portfolio of $19 billion by the end of last year. Its net profit for 2025 surged more than sixfold to $100.8 million and revenue more than doubled to $538.6 million, its financial statement shows.

The Trump Organisation is also active in the US, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, South Korea, Turkey and Uruguay. Last year, it was reported that Syria had offered Donald Trump the opportunity to build a 45-storey luxury tower in Damascus in partnership with a UAE-based developer. However, the Trump Organisation did not confirm the reports. Damascus is emerging as a new destination for property developers to launch projects as Syria seeks foreign investment to rebuild its economy. This week, UAE developer Arada announced a $7 billion mixed-use property development in New Damascus, amid high demand for property from locals as well as foreign citizens living abroad. The US has removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, a move that could help the country attract more investment.