News Desk
As President Donald Trump embarks on a diplomatic visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, his sons, Eric and Donald Trump Jr., have been actively pursuing business opportunities for The Trump Organization in the same region. Their efforts coincide with the involvement of Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, and his son Zach Witkoff, who are entangled in the Trump family’s financial ventures, particularly in the UAE. The overlap between the president’s official duties, his family’s business dealings, and the Witkoffs’ roles has intensified concerns about potential conflicts of interest, with critics warning that foreign deals could influence U.S. foreign policy. Below is an overview of the Trump family’s business activities in each country, the Witkoffs’ contributions, and comments from the White House press secretary.
Saudi Arabia
Trump Organization Ventures
The Trump Organization is expanding in Saudi Arabia through partnerships with Dar Global, a London-based luxury real estate developer and subsidiary of the private Saudi firm Al Arkan. Two new real estate projects in Riyadh, the capital, will carry the Trump brand. Additionally, a Trump Tower is planned for Jeddah, and a Trump International Hotel and luxury golf development is under way in neighboring Oman, also in collaboration with Dar Global.
LIV Golf Connection
The Saudi government-backed LIV Golf has forged close ties with President Trump, hosting tournaments at his Doral resort in South Florida. This relationship highlights the deepening business connections between the Trump family and Saudi interests.
Witkoff Involvement
Steve Witkoff, a billionaire real estate developer and Trump’s Middle East envoy, has no direct business ventures in Saudi Arabia mentioned here, but his role as a diplomatic negotiator in the region raises questions about his influence. His extensive business ties in the Gulf, including past deals with sovereign wealth funds, could complicate his diplomatic efforts.
Witkoff is Qatar Amir’s friend and he is the man behind the flying palace deal for Trump.
Qatar
Luxury Golf Resort Deal
In Qatar, The Trump Organization has secured a deal to develop a luxury golf resort in partnership with Qatari Diar, a real estate company backed by Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund. This project marks a significant expansion of the Trump brand in the Gulf state.
Witkoff Involvement
Steve Witkoff has engaged with Qatari officials, speaking at the Qatar Economic Forum in Doha in May 2024, where he expressed optimism about investment opportunities due to Qatar’s “solid government” and strong public-private partnerships. His son Alex Witkoff attended a conference hosted by the Qatari prime minister in October 2024, signaling the family’s ongoing ties to Qatar. These connections, including the sale of Manhattan’s Park Lane Hotel to the Qatar Investment Authority for $623 million in 2023, underscore potential conflicts as Witkoff negotiates U.S. policy in the region.
United Arab Emirates
Trump Tower in Dubai
Eric Trump announced plans for an 80-story Trump Tower in Dubai, the UAE’s largest city, in collaboration with Dar Global. The project is part of The Trump Organization’s push into the Emirati market, leveraging Dubai’s status as a global business hub.
Cryptocurrency Ventures
Eric Trump attended a cryptocurrency conference in Dubai alongside Zach Witkoff, co-founder of World Liberty Financial (WLFI), the Trump family’s crypto company. Steve Witkoff also reportedly had a hand in founding WLFI. At the Token2049 conference, Zach Witkoff announced that MGX, a UAE state-backed investment firm, would use WLFI’s stablecoin, USD1, for a $2 billion investment in Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange. This deal, described as creating “a formal link” between Binance and WLFI, could generate tens of millions annually for the Trump family and WLFI stakeholders, including the Witkoffs. Critics, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, have called it a conflict of interest, noting the involvement of a foreign government in a Trump family venture.
DAMAC Properties Investment
President Trump announced a $20 billion investment by DAMAC Properties, an Emirati company led by billionaire Hussain Sajwani, for U.S. data centers. While framed as a boost to U.S. technology, Sajwani’s long-standing ties with the Trump family predate the 2016 election, raising questions about personal gain.
Witkoff Involvement
Steve Witkoff’s role as Middle East envoy intersects with his family’s business interests in the UAE. His son Zach’s prominent role in WLFI, alongside Eric Trump, ties the Witkoffs directly to the Trump family’s crypto ventures. Steve Witkoff’s past dealings with the UAE, including the sale of the Park Lane Hotel to Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund, add to concerns about his ability to separate diplomatic duties from financial interests. Reports suggest he was involved in WLFI negotiations with Binance while serving as envoy, potentially violating ethics standards.
White House Response
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed claims that President Trump’s actions are driven by personal financial gain, calling such suggestions “ridiculous.” She highlighted Trump’s background as a successful businessman, stating, “I think, frankly, that it’s one of the many reasons that people reelected him back to this office.” Leavitt insisted that the president is fully compliant with conflict-of-interest laws.
Broader Implications
The Trump family’s extensive business dealings in the Middle East, intertwined with the Witkoffs’ roles in real estate and cryptocurrency ventures, have heightened concerns about the potential for foreign policy to be influenced by financial interests. Steve Witkoff’s diplomatic role, combined with his and Zach’s ties to Trump family ventures, particularly in the UAE, amplifies scrutiny over transparency and accountability. While the White House maintains that all activities adhere to legal standards, the convergence of public duties and private enterprises continues to spark debate about governance and ethics.
