Trump Group and Saudi Dar Global to tokenize Maldives hotel
Saudi Arabian Dar Global (LSE: DAR), part of Dar Global PLC, a real estate development company headquartered in Dubai and publicly listed on the London Stock Exchange, and Trump Organization are set to tokenize the hotel development for Trump International Hotel Maldives project using blockchain technology.
As per the press release, the collaboration is not only bringing the Trump brand to the Maldives but also introduces tokenization of the luxury hospitality project. The initiative tokenizes the development phase itself, offering investors the opportunity to participate in a high-growth, premium real estate project from inception.
The Trump International Hotel Maldives will feature approximately 80 ultra-luxury beach and overwater villas and is et to open by the end of 2028.
Eric Trump, Executive Vice President of The Trump Organization, stated that they are delighted to bring the Trump brand to the Maldives with Dar Global. He noted, “This development will not only redefine luxury in the region but also set a new benchmark for innovation in real estate investment through tokenization.”
Ziad El Chaar, CEO of Dar Global, explained “Tokenizing the development of Trump International Hotel Maldives marks a global first that blends luxury, innovation, and technology in a way that will transform how the world invests in hospitality.”
On the main page of DarGlobal website, it reveals that the company is evolving how the world invests in luxury real estate. It talks about the utilization of blockchain powered tokenization, making access to high-value properties smarter, more flexible, and globally connected through factional ownership.
Dar Global notes that investors can trade their tokens through regulated platforms knowing that these tokens are backed by real-world assets, with every transaction being recorded on the blockchain.
In an interview in London, Dar Global CEO Ziad El Chaar said that he hoped to fund up to 70% of its latest Trump International Hotel in the Maldives by selling tokens to retail investors.
“We would like to … tokenize 70% of that development fund to as many token holders as possible,” said El Chaar, adding: “The biggest crypto market and the biggest amount of investors are in the U.S.”
Dar Global is in discussions with U.S. regulator the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on the matter and is exploring options in other unspecified countries, a spokesperson for the company told Reuters.
The Deloitte Center for Financial Services predicts that US$4 trillion of real estate will be tokenized by 2035, increasing from less than US$0.3 trillion in 2024, with a CAGR of 27%. Deloitte adds that the tokenized ownership of undeveloped land and under-construction projects is expected to reach US$50 billion by 2035, with a total market penetration rate of 0.80%.
In 2022, Saudi Arabian Dar Al Arkan Real Estate Developer dropped a limited number of utility NFTs ( Non fungible tokens) for its Oman AIDA project. The $1.6 billion project AIDA, is the largest premium, mixed-use urban developments in Oman. It is a partnership between Dar Al Arkan and the Oman Tourism Development Company (OMRAN Group) was aimed to drive the development of the Gulf state’s property market and support the growth of Oman’s real estate sector as part of Oman Vision 2040.
Updated November 19th 2025
