The Trump Organization is reportedly in advanced negotiations to establish a branded property within one of Saudi Arabia’s most ambitious government-owned real estate developments. Jerry Inzerillo, CEO of the Saudi company spearheading the Diriyah project, hinted to The New York Times that an official announcement is imminent. ‘Nothing announced yet, but soon to be,’ Inzerillo stated, emphasizing that a deal is ‘just a matter of time.’
Diriyah, the ancestral home of the Al-Saud ruling family and a UNESCO World Heritage site, is undergoing a $63 billion transformation into a luxury destination featuring hotels, restaurants, shops, and museums. During his May visit to Saudi Arabia, former U.S. President Donald Trump toured the site, which Inzerillo described as a strategic move to appeal to Trump’s developer instincts. ‘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 remarked.
This potential deal aligns with the Trump Organization’s expanding footprint in the Gulf region. The company, managed by Trump’s sons Eric and Donald Jr., has secured numerous high-profile projects across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Oman, and the Maldives. These ventures often involve licensing the Trump brand to foreign developers, a lucrative strategy that generated $21.9 million in revenue last year alone, according to The New York Times.
The Trump Organization’s Gulf expansion has not been without controversy, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest and favoritism during Trump’s presidency. Despite these allegations, the organization continues to forge partnerships with influential regional firms like Saudi Arabia’s Dar Global, which recently announced a new luxury hotel project in the Maldives under the Trump International brand.
As the Trump family business thrives abroad, its reliance on foreign partnerships underscores the global appeal of the Trump name, even as it navigates ongoing scrutiny.