The Trump Organization has announced its latest global project -- a luxury resort in the Maldives -- developed in partnership with Saudi-linked real-estate giant Dar Global. The venture stands out not only for its opulence but also for its financing method, which will rely on blockchain-based investment tokens.
The announcement came on Tuesday as US President Donald Trump hosted Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House, marking the prince’s first visit to Washington in years. The timing has drawn attention to the deepening business and political ties between the Trump family and Saudi Arabia.
A new Trump destination in the Maldives
The planned Trump International Hotel Maldives will be built on an island about 25 minutes by speedboat from the capital, Malé. It will feature around 80 villas split between beachfront and overwater categories, designed to appeal to high-end international travellers.
A single image released by the company shows a futuristic, curved-roof villa overlooking a lagoon and a teardrop-shaped pool, hinting at ultra-luxury positioning. The project is scheduled for completion by the end of 2028, according to the Trump Organization.
In its statement, the company said the resort would be “designed for discerning global travellers seeking the highest levels of privacy, exclusivity, and sophistication.” Once completed, it will join the Trump portfolio of branded properties in the United States, Scotland, Ireland, West Asia, and Asia.
The Maldives, known for its elite hospitality market, will add a new destination to the Trump brand’s expanding presence in regions popular with wealthy global tourists.
Blockchain enters Trump’s business model
What sets the Maldives venture apart is its tokenised funding structure -- a model that applies blockchain technology to raise capital. Instead of traditional real-estate financing, investors will be offered digital tokens representing stakes in the project’s development fund.
Dar Global has described this as a world-first for luxury hospitality. “This pioneering collaboration not only brings the Trump brand to one of the world’s most exclusive destinations but also introduces an unprecedented financial innovation, tokenising the development of a luxury hospitality project for the first time,” the company said in a statement.
Unlike other blockchain-based real-estate projects that tokenise completed assets, this initiative tokenises the development phase itself. Dar Global claims the move will allow investors to participate “from inception,” rather than waiting for construction to finish.
Eric Trump, who oversees international ventures for the Trump Organization, said the project represents a shift in how the company approaches real estate. “We are delighted to bring the Trump brand to the Maldives in collaboration with Dar Global. This development will not only redefine luxury in the region but also set a new benchmark for innovation in real estate investment through tokenisation,” he said.
Dar Global CEO Ziad El Chaar echoed this sentiment, calling the approach “a global first.” He said, “Dar Global continues to push boundaries, from developing world-class destinations to pioneering new investment structures. Tokenising the development of Trump International Hotel Maldives marks a global first that blends luxury, innovation, and technology in a way that will transform how the world invests in hospitality.”
Speaking to Bloomberg, El Chaar explained that the tokens will represent shares in a financing fund, with Dar Global retaining between 30 and 40 percent of the stake. However, details about investor returns or voting rights have not yet been disclosed.
Trump family’s crypto pivot
The Maldives project also signals the Trump Organization’s growing interest in blockchain and crypto-based investment models. With President Trump focused on Washington, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump have become the driving forces behind the company’s global expansion and digital strategy.
Both have championed the use of blockchain to democratise access to luxury real estate. In an earlier interview, Eric Trump said tokenisation could allow “ordinary people a chance to have a piece of something that we do,” offering access to projects typically closed to major financiers.
He suggested that token holders might receive perks such as access to resort facilities or special privileges linked to the property. “They want to be part of it, and under no other scenario could they ever have had access to that project,” he said.
The venture aligns with the Trump administration’s crypto-friendly policies, which have included executive measures supporting digital markets and the passage of legislation related to stablecoins.
Deepening Saudi business ties
Dar Global, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Dar Al Arkan, has been one of Trump’s most consistent partners in the Gulf. The two have collaborated on several high-profile developments, including residential towers, golf estates, and hospitality projects in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Dubai, and Qatar.
The Maldives resort marks an expansion of this partnership beyond the Gulf, into South Asia. It also represents a more active financial role for the Trump Organization compared to its traditional model of brand licensing.
By adopting a tokenised investment framework, the Trumps are positioning themselves at the intersection of luxury hospitality, blockchain technology, and geopolitical influence. For the family business, the Maldives resort is both a high-end destination and a signal of its next big gamble — bringing crypto finance into real estate’s most exclusive circles.
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