Just days after announcing presidential candidacy, Trump helms real estate deal with Saudi company


Saudi Arabian real estate developer Dar Al Arkan announced Sunday that it had signed a deal with the Trump Organization to use the company's brand for a $4 billion project in Oman, The New York Times reported.
The deal — details of which were made public in a regulatory filing on the Saudi Exchange — was helmed primarily by former President Donald Trump himself, according to the Times. The deal will reportedly finance Trump-branded real estate projects throughout Oman, including "residential villas, a hotel, and a golf course."
The actual financial terms agreed to by Dar Al Arkan and the Trump Organization weren't revealed.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Reuters noted that Trump has had close relations with a number of Middle Eastern states both during and after his presidency. This includes the Saudi Arabian government itself, which invested $2 billion in a firm of Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner after Trump's presidency ended. The Trump Organization additionally has a pair of golf properties in Dubai, United Arab Emirates — often considered the epicenter of wealth in the Middle East.
As the Times reported, though, the difference with this deal is that, by joining the Saudi venture, "Trump is also becoming part of a project backed by the government of Oman itself." This notably means that Trump "effectively [has] a foreign government partner that has complex relations with the United States."
As a result, Trump's deal could cause questions about a potential conflict of interest, especially given that he recently announced his third presidential campaign.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Justin Klawans has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022. He began his career covering local news before joining Newsweek as a breaking news reporter, where he wrote about politics, national and global affairs, business, crime, sports, film, television and other news. Justin has also freelanced for outlets including Collider and United Press International.
-
The week's best photos
In Pictures Dancing for tradition, the World's Ugliest Dog, and more
-
August 15 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Friday’s political cartoons include Jeffrey Epstein files distractions, a Nobel Appeasement prize for Trump, and revisionist history in Washington DC
-
'Actual poop': the messy ending of 'And Just Like That...'
Talking Point Reviewers slam 'unfunny and hateful' finale to 'Sex and the City' reboot
-
Switzerland could experience unique economic problems from Trump's tariffs
In the Spotlight The current US tariff rate on Switzerland is among the highest in the world
-
US to take 15% cut of AI chip sales to China
Speed Read Nvidia and AMD will pay the Trump administration 15% of their revenue from selling artificial intelligence chips to China
-
Jaguar's Adrian Mardell steps down: a Maga mauling
Speed Read Jaguar Land Rover had come under fire for 'woke' advertising campaign
-
NFL gets ESPN stake in deal with Disney
Speed Read The deal gives the NFL a 10% stake in Disney's ESPN sports empire and gives ESPN ownership of NFL Network
-
Is Trump's tariffs plan working?
Today's Big Question Trump has touted 'victories', but inflation is the 'elephant in the room'
-
The world's 10 richest families
In Depth From Middle Eastern monarchs to M&M magnates, these are the most fabulously wealthy clans on Earth
-
Samsung to make Tesla chips in $16.5B deal
Speed Read Tesla has signed a deal to get its next-generation chips from Samsung
-
FCC greenlights $8B Paramount-Skydance merger
Speed Read The Federal Communications Commission will allow Paramount to merge with the Hollywood studio Skydance