United States President Donald Trump has announced a new partnership with a Saudi Arabian firm to open a hotel in the Maldives, using a digital trading process that The Trump Organization says will be the “world’s first tokenised development.”
The Indian Ocean collaboration between Trump and Dubai-headquartered, London-listed, Dar Global, will see the development of approximately 80 beach villas built around 25 minutes from the Maldivian capital, Male (by speedboat). Referred to on the DAR website as “Trump International Hotel Maldive,” the project is set for completion by the end of 2028. The sole rendering of the project released so far reveals a low-slung, organically formed, overwater property with a curling walkway that encloses part of the sea.
Introducing the Maldives’ newest icon.
— The Trump Organization (@Trump) November 17, 2025
Trump International Hotel, Maldives, our debut property in the Maldives, will feature ultra-luxury beach and overwater villas, setting a new benchmark for privacy, exclusivity, and sophistication.
As part of the announcement, we’re also… pic.twitter.com/ScfLpRwQFU
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and leader, Mohammed bin Salman, visited the White House on 18 November, which many commentators have noted was the first time in the seven years since the well-documented 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents in Istanbul. The recent visit has caused widespread controversy.
Focusing on the real estate and its funding, Eric Trump, Executive Vice President of The Trump Organisation, said in a statement that the project would “redefine luxury in the region but also set a new benchmark for innovation in real estate investment through tokenization.”
DarGlobal introduces two global firsts with The @Trump Organization: Trump International Hotel Maldives, the brand’s debut in the Maldives, and the world’s first tokenized hotel development linked to the project.
— DarGlobal (@dar_global) November 18, 2025
Read more: https://t.co/b4HIZeIJZe #DarGlobal #Trump… pic.twitter.com/H2z2neA9tn
Echoing that, Dar Global, which has a range of other partnerships with Trump, including in Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar, said in a statement: “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, tokenizing the development of a luxury hospitality project for the first time.” The firm pointed out how unusual it is for tokenization to be used while a property is still under construction. “Unlike previous models that tokenize completed assets, this initiative tokenizes the development phase itself, offering investors the opportunity to participate in a high-growth, premium real estate project from inception.”
With a portfolio of hotels and other real estate all over the world, the Maldives hospitality project is not Trump’s (or Dar Global’s) first, but it represents efforts by both parties to expand their presence in major global destinations. Neither is it Trump’s first foray into digital and cryptocurrencies. The Trump Organization owns World Liberty Financial, run by Trump’s sons Eric and Donald Jr. In addition, both President Trump and First Lady Melania trade their own branded meme coins.
