DUBAI — As President Donald Trump prepares for his first Gulf tour of his second term, his sons are actively expanding Trump-branded ventures across the region—from luxury real estate in Qatar to crypto-funded towers in Dubai.

Eric Trump promoted his crypto firm in Dubai while Don Jr prepared for a Doha talk initially titled “Monetising MAGA.” Meanwhile, Gulf states see ties with the Trump brand as a shortcut to political access, arms, and advanced U.S. technologies like AI, analysts say.

Deals include Saudi, Qatari, and Emirati investments in Trump-linked funds, including US$2 billion from Saudi Arabia into Jared Kushner’s firm. The UAE is also pushing for access to restricted U.S. tech via state-backed funds tied to the Trump orbit.

Though the White House denies any conflict, experts argue Gulf states are leveraging Trump business interests to secure influence and defense deals—faster and more directly than traditional weapons purchases.