With his latest comments on Gaza, United States President Donald Trump has once again generated controversy by presenting it as a potential real estate investment rather than addressing its humanitarian situation.
On February 4, he declared that the US could “take over the Gaza Strip” and transform it into the “Riviera of the Middle East.” While these remarks fit a long-standing trend of the Trump family viewing the Middle East as a major financial opportunity, they were met with indignation.
Donald Trump’s Vision For Gaza: A Real Estate Hub?
Made alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump’s comments focused on Gaza’s real estate potential rather than the dire conditions its people are enduring. He suggested that Palestinians could have “much better housing” elsewhere, implying that they might not be allowed to return.
Similar sentiments were voiced by his son-in-law Jared Kushner in a 2024 Harvard University interview, where he suggested that if Gaza’s coastal property were “cleaned up” and its residents relocated, it could become “very valuable.”
Palestinians and the broader international community, who view these remarks as dismissive of Palestinian rights and the ongoing humanitarian crisis, have strongly objected. The comments also raise moral questions about prioritising corporate interests over the lives of millions of people.
Expanding Middle East Interests Of The Trump Organisation
Currently led by Donald Trump’s sons Eric and Donald Jr., the Trump Organisation has been making inroads in the Middle East through a series of real estate deals. It has struck several agreements with Dar Global, the international arm of Saudi Arabia’s Dar Al Arkan Real Estate Development Company, over recent years.
One of the most high-profile deals involves a luxury Trump-branded hotel and golf complex in Oman. There are also plans for Trump Tower developments in Dubai, UAE, and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Rather than outright ownership, these ventures are primarily branding agreements, with the Trump Organisation receiving millions in exchange for the use of its name.
Since 2005, Trump’s commercial ventures have been centred in Dubai. A planned Trump Tower project was shelved in 2011 due to the global financial crisis. However, in 2017, DAMAC Properties developed a Trump-branded golf course in Dubai in collaboration with the organisation.
Further solidifying Donald Trump’s ties to the Middle East, DAMAC’s owner, Hussain Sajwani, announced in January 2025 a $20 billion investment in US data centres.
Saudi Arabia: A Principal Partner
Donald Trump’s business expansion has greatly benefited from Saudi Arabia. In addition to the Trump Organisation’s real estate projects, Trump’s relationship with the monarchy has been bolstered by LIV Golf. Multiple LIV Golf events held at Trump Organisation locations in the US have strengthened its connections with Saudi investors.
Jared Kushner, through his private equity firm, Affinity Partners, has formed close financial ties with Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) invested $2 billion in Kushner’s company.
Other Gulf investors backing his ventures include the asset manager Lunate, based in Abu Dhabi, and the Qatar Investment Authority. Along with other assets in Israel, Kushner owns shares in the Shlomo Group and Phoenix Holdings insurance companies.
Potential Conflicts Of Interest
Donald Trump’s extensive business interests in the Middle East raise significant concerns regarding potential conflicts of interest. Although he legally stepped down from his corporate duties after his election in 2016, his family remains active in both political and economic spheres.
Jared Kushner, in particular, has come under scrutiny for allegedly using his former senior adviser role in Trump’s administration to build business connections with Gulf governments.
Critics argue that Donald Trump’s commercial activities could influence US foreign policy, particularly regarding Saudi Arabia and Israel.
In a 2024 interview, Kushner defended himself by claiming that all his White House decisions were made in America’s best interest. However, many remain skeptical, especially given his close ties to the Saudi royal family and other Gulf financiers.
Gaza As A Business Venture: Serious Or Unrealistic?
Donald Trump’s portrayal of Gaza as a real estate opportunity rather than a humanitarian crisis has drawn widespread criticism. Detractors of his plan to transform the area into an international resort argue that it fails to acknowledge the reality of Gaza’s situation—its damaged infrastructure and the struggle of its people for basic survival.
Many believe Trump’s comments are part of a broader strategy to align his political and commercial interests in the Middle East. His real estate deals with Saudi, Emirati, and Omani partners suggest a strong financial drive behind his words.
Although the Trump Organisation continues to expand in the region, the feasibility of transforming Gaza into a real estate hub remains highly questionable. With ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas and Trump’s suggestion that Palestinians should be relocated elsewhere, the idea is contentious. Most people agree that it is both unethical and impractical.
Donald Trump’s recent remarks on Gaza highlight his transactional approach to the Middle East, where commercial interests often seem to take precedence over political realities and humanitarian concerns.
Trump’s business entanglements in the region will likely continue to raise ethical issues as he campaigns for another term in office. One thing is clear: For Donald Trump and his family, the Middle East is as much a commercial venture as it is a political one, whether or not his vision for Gaza ever materialises.