Inside the Proposed Trump-Branded Project in Diriyah Dar Global’s Next Luxury Play

When I first heard whispers about Dar Global and the Trump Organization circling Diriyah, it landed like one of those stories you could easily imagine on the pages of a glossy business magazine. The kind of headline that is half luxury lifestyle, half geopolitical subtext. Because yes, it is a real estate story. But it is also Diriyah, one of Saudi Arabia’s most symbolic places, and the Trump brand, which carries its own political gravity.

As of late 2025, reporting points to a Trump-branded luxury development being discussed for Diriyah’s sprawling $63 billion transformation. Most speculation suggests it would be a hotel, a residential tower, or a mixed-use property that combines both. The key point is that nothing is official yet. No signed deal has been announced publicly. But the talks appear advanced enough that many observers see it as a matter of timing, not possibility.

If it happens, it will fit neatly into the pattern Dar Global has been building for the past three years. Licensing the Trump name across high-end developments throughout the Middle East, from Oman to Dubai to Saudi Arabia itself. That strategy has already produced some headline-grabbing projects, and Diriyah would be the most symbolically loaded location yet.

What Diriyah Really Is and Why Saudi Arabia Is Betting So Big on It

Diriyah is not just “a development outside Riyadh.” It is widely described as the birthplace of modern Saudi Arabia, where the Al Saud family established the foundations of the Saudi state. The At-Turaif district, a UNESCO World Heritage site, sits at the core of the project and represents one of the most distinctive surviving examples of Najdi architecture, with its mud-brick construction and geometric forms.

Saudi Arabia is now turning that history into a future-facing global destination. The Diriyah Gate Development Authority (DGDA) is overseeing an enormous redevelopment that is meant to combine cultural preservation with luxury tourism and high-end residential living.

The ambition is big enough that it has its own mythology already. A place where you can walk through restored heritage districts one moment, then step into luxury hotels and branded residences the next. A kind of Saudi answer to global cultural destinations that blend history with modern money. Think less theme park, more cultural capital with luxury infrastructure.

Diriyah is expected to include

• Large-scale heritage restoration around At-Turaif

• Luxury hotels and premium residences

• Retail districts, restaurants, and museums

• Cultural and performance venues

• Parks and pedestrian-friendly green spaces

The plan stretches into the 2030s and is deeply tied to Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia’s push to diversify its economy beyond oil. The official site gives the cleanest overview of the scale and vision
https://www.dgda.gov.sa/en

Where the Dar Global and Trump Diriyah Project Stands in Late 2025

Here is where the story gets interesting. Unlike some earlier developments where branding deals were announced quickly and details emerged later, this one is still in the advanced talks phase.

The strongest signals include

• Dar Global’s continuing momentum with Trump-branded developments across the region

• Public hints from Dar Global leadership that more Saudi projects are coming

• Increased reporting around Diriyah being a key target for the Trump brand next

• The fact that Trump toured Diriyah during his May 2025 Saudi visit, reportedly hosted by DGDA CEO Jerry Inzerillo

That last detail is not a small one. Inzerillo is not just another executive leading a tourism authority. He is a developer-type figure known for large-scale hospitality ambitions, and he is also a longtime associate of Trump. In interviews, he framed Trump’s visit as something closer to a developer viewing a development than a politician doing a photo op. That does not confirm any business agreement, but it helps explain why Diriyah began showing up in reports as the next likely Trump-branded site.

The project itself is still speculative, but the most commonly suggested shape is

• A Trump-branded residential tower or branded residences component

• A luxury hospitality element, possibly a hotel

• A private club-style offering aimed at international elites and high-net-worth buyers

As of December 2025, no formal launch has been announced, but the consensus among commentators is that it may be imminent.

Why Dar Global Keeps Turning to the Trump Brand

Dar Global is a London-listed developer widely described as the international arm of Saudi-based Dar Al Arkan. It has strong ties to Gulf real estate and positions itself as a bridge between Saudi capital and global luxury branding.

It is also important to understand how modern branded real estate works in this region. The Trump Organization does not have to build or own these towers. The developer builds them, and the Trump Organization licenses the name, which can dramatically increase pricing power, speed up sales, and create a global marketing hook.

Dar Global has paid millions in licensing fees tied to these projects. Reports have cited figures like $21.9 million in 2024 alone. That is the attraction for the Trump side. Revenue without operational risk, and growth in markets where high-end branded real estate still sells extremely well.

A Regional Pattern That Makes Diriyah Feel Inevitable

Diriyah does not appear out of nowhere. It looks like the latest chapter in a pipeline that has expanded quickly since 2022.

Notable Trump and Dar Global developments announced across the region include

Trump International Oman
Muscat, Oman
Luxury golf and resort development that helped establish the relationship early.

Trump Tower Dubai
Dubai, UAE
Announced March 2025, designed as a landmark luxury tower.

Trump Tower Jeddah
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Estimated around $533 million, with seafront residences and a private club component. Groundbreaking took place in early 2025.

Trump Plaza Jeddah
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Reported as a $1 billion mixed-use plan including office space and park-like elements.

Trump International Qatar
Doha, Qatar
Announced April 2025, golf-driven luxury development.

Trump International Maldives
Maldives
Announced November 2025, notable for the tokenized ownership angle.

Two Riyadh Developments
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Announced in late 2024, reinforcing that Saudi Arabia is already central to the partnership.

Against that backdrop, a Diriyah deal feels less like a surprise and more like a strategic move. Planting the brand inside the most culturally important Saudi development of the next decade.

Why a Trump Property in Diriyah Would Matter

At first glance, this is straightforward. Another luxury brand, another project, another licensing deal. But Diriyah is a different kind of location.

It could strengthen Diriyah’s identity as a global luxury destination

Diriyah is competing for the same kind of global attention that Dubai and Abu Dhabi have mastered. Global luxury tourism depends heavily on symbols and familiarity. Recognisable international names still pull crowds, buyers, and capital. If Saudi Arabia wants Diriyah to become a must-visit destination, projects like this act as international signifiers.

It fits the Trump Organization’s international playbook

The Trump Organization has leaned heavily on licensing in recent years, especially in fast-growing luxury markets. It allows expansion without heavy capital investment. A Diriyah deal would likely mirror that structure. Developer-funded, Trump-branded, and marketed globally.

It raises the business and diplomacy question more than most projects

This is the part everyone circles back to, even if they pretend they are only interested in architecture and unit pricing.

With Trump back in office, critics argue that any Trump-branded deal in a state-backed Saudi mega-development creates an uncomfortable overlap, or at least the appearance of overlap, between private business interests and diplomatic relationships. This has been raised by ethics watchdog groups like Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), who have repeatedly warned about blurred lines in Trump family business arrangements.

Supporters argue there is no conflict because the Trump Organization is run by Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., and licensing is a standard business arrangement. Licensing deals are not unusual. But the optics remain sharp, especially in a year when the U.S. and Saudi Arabia are again discussing sensitive strategic topics including security cooperation and advanced weapons systems.

A story like this becomes a magnet for interpretation. It can be both just real estate and something symbolic. That is what makes it so sticky.

The Diriyah Factor and Why Branding Carries Extra Weight Here

Diriyah is not merely an economic engine. It is also a cultural statement. Saudi Arabia wants Diriyah to embody something bigger than luxury. A narrative of heritage, identity, and global relevance.

That is why brand choices in Diriyah matter. Every international name attached to it becomes part of the story Saudi Arabia is telling the world. A Trump-branded property would not just be a hotel or a tower. It would become a signal of alignment, access, and confidence in the future of Diriyah.

In mega-projects like this, symbolism is often treated as a form of infrastructure.

What to Watch Next

If the Diriyah Trump project moves from talks to announcement, it will likely come with

• Confirmation of whether it is a hotel, residences, or both

• A branding and sales strategy aimed at international buyers

• A timeline likely stretching into the early-to-mid 2030s

• Design cues that blend luxury with the Diriyah heritage aesthetic

Until that happens, the smartest way to view this story is as a probable extension of an existing pattern, not a confirmed fact.

Bottom Line

As of late 2025, a Trump-branded development in Diriyah remains unannounced, but strongly signaled. It sits at the intersection of luxury real estate, Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 ambitions, and the complicated question of how business optics change when a global brand is inseparable from political power.

Diriyah is one of the largest and most symbolically significant development projects on Earth right now. If a Trump-branded property lands there, it will not be just another tower. It will become part of a much bigger story.