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Damac secures rights to build Trump Tower Abu Dhabi

By Megha Merani
The atrium of Trump Tower in Manhattan. Damac’s Ali Sajwani says Trump-branded properties in Dubai have doubled in value since 2020 Alamy via Reuters Connect
The atrium of Trump Tower in Manhattan. Damac’s Ali Sajwani says Trump-branded properties in Dubai have doubled in value since 2020
  • Damac has other Trump brands
  • Dar Global announces projects
  • Trump has ‘very big pull’

The Dubai luxury developer Damac Properties has secured the rights to build a Trump Tower in Abu Dhabi, sources familiar with the matter have told AGBI, as the Trump Organisation expands its footprint in the Gulf.

Damac has an established relationship with the Trump Organisation, the family business of US President-elect Donald Trump, with a portfolio including the Trump International Golf Club Dubai and Trump-branded villas at Damac Hills. 

Dar Global, the London-listed international arm of the Saudi real estate developer Dar Al Arkan, announced earlier this month a series of new Trump-branded projects in the region in partnership with the Trump Organisation.

Dar Global unveiled plans last week for a Trump Tower Dubai, a AED2 billion ($544 million) project promising views of the Burj Khalifa.

It also announced it will build a SAR2 billion ($532 million) Trump Tower and hotel resort in Jeddah this year, as well as a Trump Golf community in Riyadh. 

The Riyadh project follows Dar Global’s earlier $4 billion Aida development in Oman, which features Trump-branded villas, a golf course and a resort targeting ultra-high-net-worth buyers.

Reuters reported last week that Dar Global and the Trump Organisation were to partner on a project in Abu Dhabi, but sources told AGBI this report was inaccurate.

When asked for comment, a Dar Global spokesperson said the company had confirmed projects in Oman, Dubai, Jeddah and Riyadh, without including any mention of Abu Dhabi. “As for other projects, we will announce further updates as and when we expand our portfolio,” they said.

Damac declined to comment and the Trump Organisation did not respond to a request for comment.

Damac’s Ali Sajwani said last year that Trump-branded properties in Dubai have doubled in value since 2020.

A further project, the Trump World Golf Club at Akoya Oxygen, designed by Tiger Woods, was announced but there has been little progress on it. The Trump Organisation website still lists it as “opening soon”, though its launch has been postponed for several years.

“Trump as a brand still has very big pull,” Dar Global’s El Chaar said in February, pointing to the demand for Trump-branded villas in Oman, which received more than 100 expressions of interest within 24 hours of launch.

Real estate developers from around the globe pay the Trump Organisation to use his name for their projects.

Fashion, Adult, MaleReuters/Abdel Hadi Ramahi
Eric Trump, son of US president-elect Donald Trump, has emphasised the Trump Organisation’s commitment to the region

These new projects underline the continued demand for high-end branded real estate in the Gulf, reflecting the enduring appeal of the Trump name even as it faces continued scrutiny over the family’s business ties in the US. 

During his first term in the White House, Donald Trump ceded control of his business to his sons, yet his connections with Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, have raised ethical concerns.

Eric Trump, executive vice-president of the Trump Organisation, said: “We are proud to expand our presence in the region further through the launch of our iconic Trump Tower Dubai in collaboration with Dar Global.

“Trump Tower Dubai exemplifies our commitment to excellence and luxury, and we look forward to bringing our vision to life in one of the world’s most dynamic cities.”

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