U.S. President Donald Trump tours the Diriyah project site with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during his visit to Saudi Arabia in May. UPI=Yonhap News.Donald Trump's family business, the Trump Organization, which is involved in various projects worldwide, is set to sign a new contract to participate in Saudi Arabia's mega urban development project, The New York Times (NYT) reported on the 15th (local time).

As President Trump has consistently shown a close relationship with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has been virtually an international pariah in recent years, this contract is expected to reignite debates about conflicts of interest, with President Trump leveraging his position for personal gain.

Jerry Inzerillo, CEO of the Diriyah Gate Development Authority, which leads Saudi Arabia's 'Diriyah Project,' stated regarding the Trump Organization's participation in the Diriyah Project, "Nothing has been announced yet, but it will be soon," and called signing a contract with the Trump Organization a "matter of time."

Inzerillo, also a longtime friend of President Trump, mentioned that the president expressed satisfaction when he toured the Diriyah development site during his state visit to Saudi Arabia in May.

Diriyah, the birthplace of the Saudi Kingdom, is currently undergoing a $63 billion (approximately 91.7 trillion won) development project as the Saudi government aims to transform it into a luxury resort destination featuring hotels and large shopping areas.

Similar to its other Middle Eastern ventures, the Trump Organization is expected to enter into a contract that allows them to use the Trump brand for hotels and other facilities within the Diriyah development area in exchange for licensing fees.

The NYT commented, "The fusion of business and politics is shaking American norms, but it is common in the Gulf region, where hereditary families wield absolute power and the term 'conflict of interest' carries little weight."

Indeed, the Trump family is leveraging the characteristics of these Middle Eastern monarchies to conduct various businesses across the Gulf region.

In Dubai, United Arab Emirates, the construction of Trump hotels and Trump Tower is underway, and Qatar signed a contract with the Trump family in April to build a golf course through its state-owned real estate company.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman guides U.S. President Donald Trump during his state visit to Saudi Arabia in May. AP=Yonhap News. 

However, the NYT pointed out that it is clearly problematic that discussions for such a contract are underway while Crown Prince bin Salman, who faced a frosty reception from the previous Biden administration, is visiting the United States for the first time in seven years, seeking to restore his reputation.

Crown Prince bin Salman, the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, has had a strained relationship with the United States since the assassination of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in October 2018.

Unlike former President Biden, President Trump defended him, saying, "I want to believe him," even when Crown Prince bin Salman was identified as the mastermind behind the Khashoggi assassination. The Trump administration was preparing what amounted to state-level hospitality, including a formal dinner during Crown Prince bin Salman's visit to the U.S.

Regarding bin Salman's visit, the NYT criticized, "President Trump will be discussing national security with a foreign leader who is a key figure in his business dealings," and stated that this contract "will be the latest instance of President Trump merging governance and family business."

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