The Trump Organization eyes real estate deal in Saudi government development: Report

The Trump Organization is in talks to build a branded property in one of Saudi Arabia’s largest government-owned real estate developments. 

The chief executive of the Saudi company leading the development told The New York Times that a deal between the Trump Organization and Diriyah development would be announced “soon”.

“Nothing announced yet, but soon to be,” Jerry Inzerillo said, adding it was “just a matter of time” before the Trump Organization reached a deal.

Diriyah is the original home of the ruling Al-Saud family and includes a mud brick village that is a listed Unesco World Heritage site. The city, a 20-minute drive from Riyadh, is undergoing a $63bn development into a luxury destination with hotels, restaurants, shops, and museums. US President Donald Trump toured the site in May during his visit to the kingdom.

“It turned out to be a good stroke of luck and maybe a little bit clever of us to say, ‘OK, let’s appeal to him as a developer’ - and he loved it,” Inzerillo told the NYT.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will meet with Trump at the White House on Tuesday. The two leaders are expected to discuss billions of dollars in deals spanning AI chips, warplanes and nuclear technology.

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The Trump Organization is run by the US president’s two adult sons, Eric and Donald Jr. The family has sealed major business deals across the oil-rich Gulf during Trump's presidency, sparking allegations about corruption and favouritism.

Trump has denied benefitting from any deals, but he has blended diplomacy with the family business.

During a hot-mic incident at Egypt’s resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh to unveil the Gaza ceasefire deal, the president of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, was heard asking Trump if he could arrange a meeting with his son, Eric.

The Trump Organization is already active in Saudi Arabia.

A Trump Tower is going up in the Red Sea coastal city of Jeddah, and two projects were announced in Riyadh in December 2024, shortly after Trump won the US presidential election.

Deals from Qatar to Oman

In April, Qatari Diar, a government-administered real estate firm in Doha, announced it was partnering with the Trump Organization to build a Trump International Golf Club and villas in Simaisma, a resort town some 30 kilometres north of the Qatari capital. 

Meanwhile, in the UAE, an 80-storey Trump hotel is being built featuring "the highest outdoor pool in the world”.

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The Trump Organization is also involved in the construction of a Golf course and luxury hotel in Oman.

Saudi firm Dar Global has emerged as the Trump Organization's most important overseas partner. It is the key conduit for Trump's Gulf ties.

Dar Global opened its first US office earlier this year at Trump Tower in New York City. Dar Global is a subsidiary of the sprawling Saudi development firm Dar al-Arkan, which has close ties to the Saudi government.

On Monday, Dar Global announced a new project with Trump's family in the Maldives. It involves the construction of a luxury hotel under the Trump International brand, with investors able to participate in its financing through digital tokens. 

Trump properties outside the US are typically constructed by foreign firms. The Trump Organization makes money by selling the Trump brand name, and with it, the reputation. 

Those licensing fees have proven very lucrative for Trump’s children. According to the NYT, Dar Global’s purchase of rights to the Trump name generated $21.9m for the Trump family business last year.