US EditionThe Trump franchise is expanding in the Middle East — and so are ethical concerns
- Donald Trump expanded his business franchise in the Middle East in early May 2025, visiting the UAE, Oman, and Qatar while announcing new resort and crypto ventures.
- This expansion builds on longstanding ties with Middle Eastern partners and deals that began during Trump’s presidency starting in 2017 and continued evolving through multiple visits.
- Key deals include an 80-story Trump Tower Dubai condo, a jungle-themed Qatar resort signed with Qatari Diar and a Saudi firm linked to the royal family, and a $2 billion crypto investment backed by UAE funds.
- Eric Trump announced the MGX fund would invest $2 billion in Binance stablecoins, with ties to UAE national security adviser Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, while Hussain Sajwani promoted U.S. Crypto data centers.
- These intertwined business and political relations have revived ethical concerns since Trump’s first term, as he negotiates with governments where his family holds lucrative interests involving trade and security issues.
7 Articles
7 Articles
The Trump franchise is expanding in the Middle East — and so are ethical concerns
DOHA, Qatar — President Donald Trump brushed off questions Wednesday over ethical concerns about the growing Middle East footprint of his family business, as his trip in the region takes him to three countries with Trump-branded ventures.
Trump’s Business Ties in the Middle East Are Drawing New Scrutiny
President Donald Trump has kicked off his first major foreign trip of his second term with a tour of the Middle East — a region where his family’s business interests have rapidly expanded. The timing and destination are drawing renewed scrutiny over potential conflicts of interest. Trump’s itinerary includes stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates — all countries with Trump-branded properties or high-value real estate projects…
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