Trump family business interests expand in Gulf ahead of president’s visit

Trump-linked ventures grow across UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia as political and business ties deepen.

Eric Trump, executive vice president of the Trump Organization and son of the U.S. president, reviews the proposed plan ahead of a signing ceremony with Qatar's Diar and Dar Global in Doha on April 30, 2025. Photo by Karim Jaafar/AFP

By Alana Salsabila and Hayu Andini

As U.S. President Donald Trump prepares for a high-profile tour of the Gulf next week, his family’s business ventures are making significant strides in the region. Trump family business interests, particularly those led by sons Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., are surging in visibility and value across the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia—drawing both admiration and scrutiny.

Earlier this month, Eric Trump was seen in Dubai promoting his cryptocurrency firm at a major blockchain conference. At the same time, Donald Trump Jr. was preparing for a headline appearance in Doha with a talk titled “Monetising MAGA”—later renamed “Investing in America”—at the Qatar Economic Forum. Their appearances precede President Trump’s scheduled visits to Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar on his first foreign tour since being re-elected, underscoring the intricate blend of politics and commerce that characterizes Trump family business interests in the Gulf.

Trump real estate deals surge in the Gulf

Just weeks ago, the Trump Organization, now managed by the president’s eldest sons, unveiled two major real estate announcements. The first was its entry into Qatar’s luxury property market, a strategic move marking the company’s debut in the small but wealthy Gulf state. Soon after, it revealed plans for a billion-dollar skyscraper in Dubai, where residential units will be available for purchase using cryptocurrency.

The timing of these Trump Gulf investments is not coincidental, analysts suggest. In a region dominated by monarchies and flush with energy wealth, aligning with the Trump brand offers both prestige and a perceived pathway to political access in Washington. Robert Mogielnicki of the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington said Gulf governments see the Trump brand as a valuable asset in cultivating goodwill with the U.S. administration.

Eric Trump and crypto investment ties

At the April crypto conference in Dubai, Eric Trump, alongside Zach Witkoff—the son of former Trump Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff—announced a massive partnership. MGX, a state-owned Emirati fund chaired by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, committed to investing $2 billion into Binance, one of the world's largest cryptocurrency exchanges. The investment will be made using USD1, a token developed by Trump and Witkoff’s crypto firm.

This move is emblematic of how Trump family business interests in the Gulf span beyond traditional sectors like real estate and hospitality. The involvement of Sheikh Tahnoon—brother to the UAE president and one of the most powerful figures in Abu Dhabi—further underscores the high-level political coordination surrounding these deals.

Gulf governments seek influence through business ties

While the Trump Organization insists that the president is not personally involved in these transactions, critics argue that the lines between business and politics remain blurred. President Trump retains ownership of the Trump Organization through a trust, although he no longer holds an executive role.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed concerns about conflicts of interest. “It is ridiculous to even suggest that President Trump is doing anything for his own benefit,” she told reporters. “He has lost money for being president, not gained from it.”

Nonetheless, Trump-branded projects can be found across the region, from the Trump International Golf Club in Dubai to a luxury high-rise in Jeddah and a $4 billion golf and real estate venture on land owned by the Omani government. Analysts argue that these ventures serve a dual purpose for Gulf states: diversifying their economies and securing strategic ties with the Trump administration.

Hasan Alhasan, a senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), believes that catering to Trump family business interests may yield greater political returns than traditional methods like buying American weapons. “For decades, the Gulf states’ colossal weapons purchases have lined the pockets of U.S. defense contractors. Supporting Trump-linked ventures may now be seen as a faster and more direct route to influence,” he said.

Political and commercial convergence

Beyond real estate and crypto, Gulf sovereign wealth funds have been funneling billions into investment vehicles linked to Trump allies. Notably, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) reportedly invested $2 billion into a private equity fund managed by Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and former senior adviser.

According to Bloomberg, Qatar’s Investment Authority and Abu Dhabi-based Lunate Asset Management have jointly contributed an additional $1.5 billion to Kushner’s fund. These figures highlight how Trump family business interests and associated networks are tightly woven into Gulf investment strategies.

The Gulf’s attraction to the Trump brand is rooted not only in commercial returns but in its appeal to elite clientele and its alignment with the region’s broader economic transformation plans. From NEOM in Saudi Arabia to Dubai’s luxury high-rises, Gulf nations are banking on high-end tourism and foreign investment to reduce their dependence on oil revenues. Trump-branded projects dovetail neatly with this vision.

Technology and defense still dominate state deals

Despite the flurry of private-sector Trump Gulf investments, state-level deals between the United States and Gulf monarchies remain mammoth in scale. In 2017, Riyadh pledged $600 billion in trade and investments with the United States during Trump’s first visit to Saudi Arabia. Last month, the Biden administration approved a $3.5 billion missile sale to the kingdom, underscoring the enduring importance of defense relations.

Analyst Andreas Krieg of King’s College London said, “These investments are far more than commercial plays. They are strategic transactional levers.” He added that Gulf countries seek U.S. assurances in return—ranging from advanced weaponry to preferential access to artificial intelligence technologies.

The UAE, in particular, is pushing to acquire advanced AI chips currently subject to U.S. export restrictions. This includes chips from NVIDIA and other leading U.S. firms, which are crucial for the Gulf state's ambitions to become a global AI hub.

Trump visit brings convergence of politics and profit

As President Trump embarks on his Gulf tour, his itinerary is expected to include high-level meetings in Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, and Doha. While the White House has downplayed any commercial ties to the president’s personal interests, the close timing of recent announcements raises questions.

The White House stated that the UAE has committed to a $1.4 trillion, ten-year investment framework with the U.S., although this figure has not been independently confirmed. Meanwhile, Qatar and Saudi Arabia are likely to reaffirm their own economic and security commitments during Trump’s visit.

Whether or not President Trump personally visits any of the Trump-branded properties, analysts agree that the symbolism of these ventures will not be lost on observers. They serve as visible markers of the ongoing fusion between political power and private enterprise—a hallmark of Trump family business interests in the Gulf and beyond.

As the Gulf states seek closer ties with the United States, and the Trump Organization expands its footprint in the region, the boundaries between diplomacy and business continue to blur. With billions at stake and geopolitical influence on the line, the convergence of politics and profit is likely to define President Trump's second-term approach to the Middle East.