Money and politics have always been messy bedfellows. But when you look at the Trump Saudi Arabia investment landscape in early 2026, it’s not just messy—it’s massive. We aren’t talking about a few million dollars here and there. We are talking about a $10 billion real estate spree and a $1 trillion geopolitical handshake that basically reshaped how the U.S. and the Kingdom do business.
People get this wrong all the time. They think it’s just about golf or some fancy hotels. Honestly, it’s much deeper. Since Donald Trump returned to the White House for his second term, the lines between his family’s private business interests and official U.S. foreign policy have become... well, blurry is an understatement.
The $10 Billion Real Estate Explosion
If you’ve been following the news lately, you probably saw the January 2026 announcement. The Trump Organization, led by Eric Trump, basically went all-in on Saudi soil. They partnered with Dar Global (the international arm of Saudi giant Dar Al Arkan) to launch a series of "ultra-luxury" projects.
What does that actually look like?
First, there’s the Trump International Hotel and a Trump National Golf Course in Riyadh’s Diriyah district. If you haven't heard of Diriyah, it's this historic area the Saudis are pumping $63 billion into as part of their Vision 2030 plan. It’s meant to be the "Beverly Hills of the Middle East."
Then you’ve got Trump Plaza in Jeddah. It's a massive mixed-use tower—think skyscrapers, high-end offices, and condos for the global elite. And let’s not forget the Trump Mansions in Wadi Safar. The marketing for these is kind of wild. They’re selling them as "where winners reside." It’s classic Trump branding, just with more sand and oil money.
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Why this is happening now
- Vision 2030: Saudi Arabia is desperate to diversify away from oil. They need Western brands to make their cities "world-class."
- The Presidential Return: It’s no coincidence these deals were finalized right after Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) visited the White House in late 2025.
- New Property Laws: Saudi Arabia is just now starting to allow foreign nationals to own property in specific areas. The Trump brand is positioned to be the first name people see.
Jared Kushner and the $55 Billion EA Deal
You can't talk about the Trump Saudi Arabia investment story without mentioning Jared Kushner. His firm, Affinity Partners, has been a lightning rod for criticism since day one. Why? Because nearly 99% of its $4.8 billion in assets comes from foreign sources—mostly the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF).
The big news moving into 2026 is the acquisition of Electronic Arts (EA). In a deal valued at roughly $55 billion, a consortium including the Saudi PIF and Kushner’s Affinity Partners is set to take the gaming giant private. The deal is expected to close by June 2026.
Critics like Senator Ron Wyden have been screaming from the rooftops about this. They point out that Affinity Partners collected something like $157 million in management fees from foreign clients without actually returning a profit to investors for years.
Is it a legit business? Or is it a way for foreign powers to buy influence? Kushner says he’s avoided conflicts of interest, but when your father-in-law is the President and you’re buying the company that makes Madden and The Sims with Saudi money, people are going to ask questions.
The Trillion-Dollar Handshake
While the private real estate deals are flashy, the government-to-government stuff is where the real weight is. In November 2025, the White House released a fact sheet detailing a strategic partnership that is honestly staggering in scope.
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President Trump and MBS finalized agreements where Saudi Arabia committed to increasing its investment in the U.S. to almost $1 trillion.
This covers everything:
- Nuclear Energy: A Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement that positions American firms as the preferred partners for Saudi’s budding nuclear program.
- AI and Tech: A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that gives the Kingdom access to high-end U.S. AI systems, while the U.S. gets to safeguard the tech from Chinese influence.
- Critical Minerals: A deal between MP Materials (a U.S. rare earth company) and the Saudi mining firm Maaden to build a refinery in the Kingdom. It’s a direct move to cut China out of the supply chain.
- Defense: The sale of F-35 fighter jets and nearly 300 American tanks. This is a massive win for the U.S. defense industry, even if it makes human rights advocates uneasy.
LIV Golf: The $5 Billion Question Mark
Then there's the golf. We have to talk about the golf.
LIV Golf, the Saudi-funded league, has been a staple at Trump-owned courses for years. As we head into the 2026 season—which starts February 4th in Saudi Arabia—the league is increasing its total purse to $30 million.
But it’s not all sunshine and birdies. Reports from mid-January 2026 suggest the PIF is mulling the future of LIV after losing nearly $5 billion in its attempt to take on the PGA. Trump remains a vocal supporter, and his courses in Bedminster, Doral, and Sterling remain key stops for the tour. The relationship here is symbiotic: Trump gives LIV legitimacy in the West, and LIV gives Trump’s courses millions in hosting fees.
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What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception is that these are just "bribes" or "pay-to-play" schemes. That’s too simple.
From the Saudi perspective, they are buying a seat at the table of the world's most powerful economy. They want tech transfers. They want to be a "Major Non-NATO Ally" (a status Trump officially conferred on them in late 2025).
From the Trump perspective, it’s about "America First" via massive capital inflows. If the Saudis spend $1 trillion in the U.S., it creates jobs in Ohio, Alabama, and Texas. The fact that his family's hotels and golf courses benefit is, in his view, just a bonus of being a "successful businessman."
Actionable Insights for 2026
If you're looking at the Trump Saudi Arabia investment trend as a business person or an observer, here is what you need to keep an eye on:
- Watch the Regulatory Hurdles: The EA acquisition still has to clear the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). Even with Trump in power, there will be massive pressure to ensure Saudi Arabia doesn't get too much control over American media and data.
- Real Estate Timing: If you're an investor, the Saudi property market is opening up. The first "Trump Mansions" are slated for completion in 4-5 years. The success of these branded developments will be a litmus test for whether Western luxury can actually thrive in the Kingdom.
- Defense and Tech Stocks: With the F-35 deal and the AI MOUs signed, companies like Lockheed Martin, AMD, and Cisco are deeply embedded in the U.S.-Saudi corridor. These aren't just one-off sales; they are decades-long service and maintenance contracts.
- LIV Golf's Pivot: Keep an eye on the "merger" talks between the PGA Tour and PIF. If the Saudis decide to stop funding LIV as a standalone entity, the value of Trump’s golf partnerships might shift significantly.
The reality is that the U.S.-Saudi relationship has been reset. It’s no longer just about oil-for-security. It’s a complex web of private real estate, sovereign wealth funds, and high-tech manufacturing. Whether you love the politics or hate them, the sheer volume of capital moving between Mar-a-Lago and Riyadh is something you can't ignore.