Credited from: NEWSWEEK
The Trump Organization has announced a new project in Qatar, confirming its intent to continue foreign business activities during President Donald Trump's second term. The deal involves developing a luxury golf resort featuring the Trump International Golf Club and villas at a beachside location in Simaisma, approximately 40 minutes north of Doha. The project is a significant investment, estimated at $5.5 billion and backed by Qatari Diar, a government-administered firm, along with Saudi firm Dar Global, according to Middle East Eye, Newsweek, and Dawn.
The development will feature an 18-hole golf course and luxury residential villas, as part of a broader initiative referred to as the "Land of Legends." Eric Trump, who oversees the business operations, expressed pride in extending the Trump brand to Qatar, emphasizing that the collaboration would position Qatar as an attractive destination for investment and tourism. He stated, "We are incredibly proud to expand the Trump brand into Qatar through this exceptional collaboration with Qatari Diar and Dar Global," reports HuffPost, Newsweek, and Middle East Eye.
Despite the project's promising aspects, it has sparked significant ethical discussions due to the involvement of a foreign government, which appears to conflict with Trump Organization's stated commitment to avoid such partnerships. While the organization claims its agreement is strictly with Dar Global, Eric Trump mentioned both partners in the announcement, which raises questions about the ethics surrounding foreign business dealings while Trump is in office. Critics, including Noah Bookbinder from Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, have voiced concerns that the deal could lead to conflicts of interest involving U.S. foreign policy, according to HuffPost and Middle East Eye.