The potential of the Gaza Strip is unbelievable. It could become the Riviera of the Middle East. Everyone I met likes the idea that the United States owns that land (Gaza Strip). It will develop and create thousands of jobs with something grand.
During a press conference with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who visited the White House on the 4th (local time), U.S. President Donald Trump said, "The United States will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will own it and take responsibility for it," when he shared his idea of permanently relocating residents of the Gaza Strip, which is under the control of the Palestinian militant group Hamas, to neighboring Middle Eastern countries like Egypt and Jordan to develop it into a resort. His remarks were reminiscent of his previous career as a real estate investor.
Earlier, Trump praised the Gaza Strip in January, saying it boasts a "wonderful location by the sea with the best weather." This aligns with remarks made by Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, who has been expanding business in the Middle East, stating last year that the coastal land of the Gaza Strip is "very valuable." Concerns have emerged that Trump's plan for the Gaza Strip may be for the benefit of the 'Trump family,' who have recently been expanding their businesses in the Middle East.
◇ The Trump family is involved in real estate in Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Dubai
The Middle East has been the region where the Trump family has focused most of its international real estate transactions over the past three years. Most of these have taken the form of so-called "branding transactions," where they lend the name "Trump" to high-end condos, golf courses, and hotel sales. The Trump family earned tens of millions of dollars in fees from branding transactions alone in the Middle East.
Additionally, the Trump family is engaged in business in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Israel. The Trump family recently signed a contract with Dar Al Arkan, a real estate developer in Saudi Arabia, to construct high-rise luxury apartments, golf courses, and hotels in Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Dubai.
The Oman project is directly involved with the Omani government. This is because the land where Trump golf courses, hotels, and resorts are being built is owned by the Omani government. Through this project, the Trump family has earned at least $7.5 million from Oman alone. Donald Trump Jr., the eldest son of Trump, and Eric Trump, the second son, visited Oman last year to check on the project’s progress and visited the site with Yousef Al Sulaiman, the chairman of Dar Al Arkan.
The Trump family also reviewed their business in Israel before the attacks from Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023. Eric Trump has stated that he intends to proceed with the proposed projects in Israel after the war in the Gaza Strip ends. The Trump family opened a golf club in Dubai in 2017, after Trump's first term began.
◇ Trump’s son-in-law’s investment firm receives investments in Saudi Arabia
The Trump family is also a major partner of the LIV Golf league, which is sponsored by the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund. The '2024 LIV Golf Championship,' which opened in April last year, was held at Trump National Doral Golf Club in Florida. For three consecutive years since the inception of LIV Golf in 2022, the tournament has been held at golf courses owned by the Trump family. Through this, the Trump family earned revenue from thousands of customers visiting to attend the LIV Golf tournament, benefiting from restaurants and hotels.
Saudi Arabia has also invested in the investment firm founded by Kushner, Affinity Partners. It is suggested that Kushner is involved in the negotiations with LIV Golf. Affinity Partners has raised $4.5 billion primarily from Middle Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. This is generally viewed as based on the relationships Kushner built while serving as a senior advisor in the White House during Trump's first term.
Above all, it was Kushner who first suggested considering the Gaza Strip as a real estate development area. At an event sponsored by Harvard Kennedy School last year, Kushner stated that "the coastal land of the Gaza Strip could be very valuable" and proposed that Israel "needs to clean up after pushing people out."