At a Glance
- The Trump Organization and partner Dar Global announced a $7 billion hotel, golf course and “Trump Mansions” development in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia
- The project joins an earlier $3 billion Trump Plaza tower in Jeddah, bringing total Saudi investments to $10 billion announced since Trump’s November 2024 election win
- President Trump insists he has “nothing to do with the family business” while in office, even as he praised Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during the prince’s November 18, 2025 White House visit
- Why it matters: The deals raise fresh conflict-of-interest questions about a sitting president whose family firm is securing billion-dollar projects in a country whose leader he publicly defends
The Trump Organization is dramatically expanding its footprint in Saudi Arabia, unveiling plans for a $7 billion luxury complex that will add hotel rooms, an 18-hole championship golf course and high-end villas called “Trump Mansions” to the historic city of Diriyah.
The announcement, made Tuesday by longtime Middle East partner Dar Global, comes barely a month after the company released a promotional video for the separate $3 billion Trump Plaza tower in Jeddah. Together, the two projects push the family brand’s pledged Saudi investments to $10 billion since Donald Trump won a second term in November 2024.
Diriyah, a UNESCO-listed site on the outskirts of Riyadh, is undergoing a $63 billion tourism-focused overhaul bank-rolled by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund. The Trump development will sit at the heart of that transformation.
Project Details
Dar Global’s release promises:
- A five-star Trump hotel
- An 18-hole championship golf course
- “Trump Mansions,” luxury villas marketed as the address “where winners reside”
One promotional clip shows sweeping desert vistas and touts “clean air, open skies, where you see more stars than neighbors.”
Eric Trump, who has taken the lead on Trump Organization announcements since his father entered office, said the Diriyah venture will “redefine luxury and excellence in the region, setting a new standard that reflects the brand’s enduring commitment to quality, prestige and timeless elegance,” according to the Financial Times.
Speaking at the site unveiling, the 42-year-old executive highlighted the firm’s other Gulf projects in Oman and the United Arab Emirates but singled out Saudi Arabia for special praise.
“We had an unbelievable success in Jeddah… we’re building one of the most beautiful buildings anywhere in the world,” Eric said. “The country has treated us unbelievably well. The explosive growth in the country is incredible.”
Timeline of Events
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| Nov 2024 | Trump elected to second term; Trump Plaza Jeddah hype video drops weeks later |
| Nov 18, 2025 | Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visits White House; Trump praises him as “a very good friend” |
| Jan 11, 2026 | Dar Global announces $7 billion Diriyah project with Trump Organization |
During the crown prince’s November Oval Office visit, Trump brushed aside reporters who asked about Saudi payments to a company that carries his name.
“I have nothing to do with the family business,” the president said. “What my family does is fine. They do business all over. They’ve done very little with Saudi Arabia, actually. They could do a lot.”
Political Backlash
Critics note the president offered equally warm words for the kingdom’s de-facto ruler. While standing beside the crown prince, Trump told journalists:
- “We have an extremely respected man in the Oval Office today. And a friend of mine for a long time.”
- “I’m very proud of the job he’s done in terms of human rights and everything else.”
- “We’ve always been on the same side of every issue.”
The president also defended Prince Mohammed against questions about the October 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a killing the CIA concluded the crown prince ordered. Trump snapped at a reporter:
“You’re mentioning someone that was extremely controversial. A lot of people didn’t like that gentleman that you’re talking about… Whether you like him or didn’t like him, things happen. But he knew nothing about it. You don’t have to embarrass our guest.”
Trump Family Business Structure
Donald Trump placed his company assets in a revocable trust when he took office, with sons Eric and Donald Trump Jr. listed as trustees. The arrangement allows the president to withdraw funds at any time, though he has said he has not exercised that option during his term.
The setup has drawn repeated lawsuits and ethics complaints arguing the president is violating the Constitution’s emoluments clauses by accepting foreign government money through Trump-branded properties.
Broader Gulf Expansion
Beyond Saudi Arabia, the Trump Organization has secured licensing and development agreements across the region:
- Oman: Trump International Resort and residences on the Arabian Sea coast
- United Arab Emirates: Two golf course communities in Dubai
- Qatar: Preliminary talks for a hotel and residential tower in Lusail City
Industry analysts say the Gulf’s sovereign wealth funds and real-estate developers view the Trump brand as a magnet for ultra-wealthy travelers and investors, even as the name remains polarizing in parts of the United States and Europe.
Key Takeaways
- The Trump Organization’s $10 billion Saudi pipeline is the largest foreign expansion in the company’s history
- President Trump’s public praise for the Saudi crown prince coincides with record family business investment in the kingdom
- Ethics watchdogs warn the arrangement risks blurring the line between official diplomacy and private profit
- Eric Trump says the firm is in “serious discussions” for additional Gulf projects, signaling more megadeals could be announced during his father’s term
