Eric Trump looks over the proposed plan ahead of the signing ceremony with Qatar's Diar (Credit: AFP)
Trump partners with Qatari firm on $3B golf resort project
US President Donald Trump is preparing to embark on his first working trip abroad in his second term, with scheduled visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) between May 13 and 16.
In Qatar, a major development was unveiled on Wednesday involving the Trump Organization and Qatari Diar, a state-run real estate firm. The two will partner to build the Trump International Golf Club and a series of luxury villas in Simaisma, a coastal town north of Doha. The venture marks the Trump Organization’s latest expansion into the Gulf.
Describing the development, Qatari Diar CEO Ali Mohamed al-Ali told Doha News that the “unique” project, located in an area branded the “Land of Legends,” is expected to attract roughly USD 3 billion in investment. Al-Ali praised the Trump Organization as one of the “best operators” in global real estate.
Though the Trump Organization has long pledged to avoid deals with foreign governments while Trump holds office, this particular arrangement involves a private intermediary. According to The New York Times, Saudi-based Dar Global was responsible for acquiring the land for the project, a detail confirmed by Eric Trump, who leads the Trump Organization.
During Trump’s presidency, foreign companies—especially in the Gulf—have typically overseen the construction of international Trump-branded properties. In such deals, the Trump Organization licenses its name and reputation while other developers manage the building and investment.
Ties with Saudi firms have particularly strengthened since Trump’s initial visit to the kingdom in 2017. Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law and a former senior adviser, secured USD 2 billion in Saudi funding for his private equity firm shortly after leaving the White House.
Elsewhere in the region, the Trump brand continues to expand. In the UAE, Dar Global is developing an 80-story Trump-branded hotel that will feature what the firm touts as “the highest outdoor pool in the world,” according to a company press release.
