Does Donald Trump Own Property in the UAE? The Real Story Behind the Trump Brand in Dubai

Last Updated on September 3, 2026 by Shitiz Srivastava

When in 2026, as Donald Trump begins his second term as U.S. President, there continue to be questions regarding his massive global business empire and specifically those related to the Middle East – particularly the Gulf region.

The question that has been searched online the most among real estate enthusiasts and politics followers alike:

Does Donald Trump personally own any property in the United Arab Emirates?

There is a simple answer to that question – and it is accurate: NO.

And understanding the reason behind that response better than just answering “no” gives you a lot of insight into exactly how Trump’s business empire really operates.

A fundamental difference between Trump’s business empire in the UAE & his other businesses

Donald Trump and/or The Trump Organization do not directly own any land, buildings, or real estate anywhere in the UAE.

Instead, they have entered into several major branding/licensing agreements with prominent local developers, allowing these developers to utilize the “Trump name” on their luxury developments.

The Trump family receives substantial revenue through:

• Licensing fees
• Management income

However, all of the actual physical assets (i.e., the land), construction costs associated with said assets, etc., are owned by the UAE-based developers.

This is simply another example of the asset-light business model:

• Maximum brand exposure
• Minimal capital investment

Also Read : Dubai Real Estate Investment 2026: Golden Visa Property Boom Explained: Prices, Golden Visa Rules & Why Investors Are Rushing In

An overview of Trump-branded developments currently available in the UAE

At present, the best-established Trump-branded asset available in the UAE is the Trump International Golf Club Dubai.

On February 18, 2017, Trump International Golf Club Dubai officially opened, with guests of honor being Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr.

However, this facility was entirely developed and owned by DAMAC Properties, a luxury developer based in Dubai headed by billionaire Hussain Sajwani.

The golf course was designed by award-winning architect Gil Hanse; he was also responsible for designing the Olympic golf course for the 2016 Olympics, and when completed in 2017, the course became the first new 18-hole course to open in Dubai in seven years.

Interestingly enough, Mr. Sajwani and his family were able to attend a New Year’s Eve party hosted by Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, during which Trump openly referred to Mr. Sajwani and his family as “the most beautiful people from Dubai.”

DAMAC confirmed that following Trump’s presidential win, they met with The Trump Organization to discuss a series of additional opportunities with regards to developing Trump-branded products, DAMAC offered $2 billion in potential deals, which Trump stated he rejected.

In addition to the golf course located within DAMAC Hills (a large 42-million-square-foot community), DAMAC Hills will feature over 100 villas featuring Trump branding and designs created by Ivanka Trump.

Each of these villas:

• Range in price from approximately $1.3 million to $4 million
• Include a personalized golf cart
• Include a Trump Lifestyle card

The most recent major development: Trump International Hotel and Tower, Dubai

Additionally, a very recent announcement regarding an even larger-scale development has occurred; namely the development of a new hotel-tower project for the UAE.

Specifically, in 2025, Dar Global, the international real estate affiliate of a Saudi-linked company, partnered with The Trump Organization to develop an 80-story hotel/tower in Downtown Dubai.

The hotel-tower project will:

• Sit directly adjacent to Downtown Dubai
• Offer panoramic views of the Burj Khalifa and the Arabian Gulf
• Combine luxury accommodations and hospitality services with residences
• Include a private member-only club known as the Trump

At completion (expected in 2031), the development is projected to contain over 570 individual units.

The smallest unit (a four-bedroom penthouse) is priced at:

• AED 70 million (approximately $19 million)

Importantly, buyers may purchase units utilizing:

• Bitcoin
• Other digital currencies

This is possible due to a prior agreement with Deus X Pay — a stablecoin payment service provider.

Once again, this is merely a branding opportunity for Dar Global (they are financing and developing the project); however, The Trump Organization will earn fees related to the use of their name and/or standards.

Previous attempts at Trump developments in Dubai

For perspective purposes, it should be noted that this represents an effort at a new Trump Tower in Dubai previously attempted under different circumstances.

An initial Trump International Hotel and Tower project on Palm Jumeirah was proposed as early as 2005 and was jointly sponsored by government-owned Nakheel.

However, in late January of 2011, the project was formally cancelled primarily due to economic conditions resulting from the global recession.

Similar to previous efforts, The Trump Organization never acquired ownership rights associated with that development.

The financials behind the deals: exactly how much money has Trump made from the UAE?

Although Donald Trump does not technically own any property in the UAE, it appears he is generating considerable amounts of money from his partnerships with UAE-based businesses.

According to reports issued by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a non-partisan watchdog group focused on ethics issues surrounding public figures, Trump’s earnings from UAE-based activities jumped significantly from 2023 to 2024.

• 2023 earnings: almost $2.7 million
• 2024 earnings: over $27 million

These estimates place overall earnings at:

• $34 million+ since he took office

With virtually all of those earnings occurring during his second year in office.

These increases were consistent with increased deal-making activity following Trump’s return to public life.

Also Read : Dubai Real Estate Market (2020–2024): Foreign Investment Scale, Opportunities, and Risks

Global expansion plans

During his second term as U.S. President, there are currently plans underway to build, finance, or open a total of twenty-four (24) additional Trump-branded projects worldwide.

This represents:

• A tripling of existing international properties

Notably, the UAE ranks high among destinations included in that expansion plan.

The real meaning behind the business model

Unlike Trump’s U.S.-based properties such as:

• Mar-a-Lago
• Trump Tower New York
• Golf clubs in Scotland and Ireland

Where the Trump family owns shares directly —

In international markets such as the UAE:

• DAMAC pays a licensing fee to use the Trump name
• The Trump Organization provides branding, design, and management expertise
• DAMAC funds land acquisition and construction

This model relies on:

• Brand recognition rather than ownership

And in luxury markets like Dubai, this strategy works extremely well for both parties.

The potential conflicts of interest raised by these activities

These are not actions taken in a political vacuum.

Every time Donald Trump traveled to foreign nations and met with leaders connected to regions where his branded projects exist, critics argued that this created potential conflicts of interest.

Supporters, however, pointed out that:

• These relationships are private sector-based
• Many existed before he took office

Despite that, the debate remains ongoing and widely discussed.

Also Read : Top Property Developers in the UAE: The Names Behind Dubai’s Iconic Skyline

The final word: Does Donald Trump own property in the UAE or elsewhere abroad?

To date, despite having spent billions of dollars on property acquisitions throughout his career, Donald Trump does not own any property anywhere in the UAE.

All Trump-branded developments, including:

• Golf courses
• Luxury villas
• Hotels and towers

Whether in DAMAC Hills, Dubai, or elsewhere, are owned and financed by regional developers.

These developers pay for the right to use the “Trump” brand.