Donald Trump's foreign real estate licensing business earned $59.5 million [1] during the 2025 fiscal year.
The growth highlights the increasing value of the Trump brand in international markets and the specific financial ties between the former president and Gulf state developers.
Reports show a 71 percent [3] year-over-year increase in foreign licensing revenue. Nearly two-thirds of that total income [2] came from just two developers based in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar [2].
Under these licensing agreements, developers pay for the right to use the Trump name on their luxury projects. These deals allow the brand to expand globally without the organization having to provide the primary capital for construction.
One of the Gulf-based developers is now planning a $20 billion [4] expansion within the U.S. [4]. This move suggests a strategic shift where foreign partners who have used the brand abroad are now seeking to invest heavily in domestic real estate.
The reliance on a small number of high-value partners in the Middle East underscores the concentration of the business's current revenue streams. While the brand maintains various global interests, the UAE and Qatar have emerged as the primary drivers of this recent financial surge.
“Trump’s foreign licensing business earned $59.5 million [1] during the 2025 fiscal year.”
The surge in licensing fees demonstrates a transition in the Trump business model toward a low-risk, high-reward branding strategy. By shifting from direct ownership to licensing, the organization captures significant revenue while transferring the financial risk of construction to foreign entities. The planned $20 billion U.S. investment by a Gulf partner further integrates these foreign financial interests with American real estate assets.
