Middle East grows wary of Trump, despite ventures in region

Damac Properties, which is associated with the Trump brand in its multi-billion dollar Akoya Oxygen in Dubailand, will be maintaining its commercial tie up with the US-based Trump Organisation.

The retaliatory measure comes following the controversial presidential candidate’s anti-Islam comments on Monday when called for banning Muslims from entering the United States.

“In light of the recent statements made by the presidential candidate in the U.S. media, we have suspended sale of all products from the Trump Home decor range”, Sachin Mundhwa, chief executive of the Landmark Group, added.

A Middle East retailer is set to withdraw Trump products from its shelves following the Republican presidential hopeful’s anti-Muslim tirade. Meanwhile, Al Tayer Group called Trump’s comments “unfortunate” but did not outline any steps after his remarks.

Trump has long identified the Middle East as a major growth market for his business. The stores will remove all products made by his brands in its retail locations across the Middle East, North Africa, Pakistan and Tanzania, write Schams Elwazer and John Defterios for CNN Money.

Trump’s daughter Ivanka, who has a senior role in the Trump Organisation, recently said that the firm was exploring “multiple opportunities in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Saudi Arabia: the four areas where we are seeing the most interest”.

FILE – In this August 23, 2008, file photo, Donald Trump, left, His Excellency Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem of Dubai, center, and then Nakheel CEO Chris O’Donnell pose together at a party thrown by Nakheel and the Trump Organization to introduce The Trump International Hotel & Tower Dubai. Representatives of those developments could not be immediately reached.

“If he doesn’t want Muslims to come to the United States, why does he want to do business with the Muslims in the UAE?” he said, speaking to the 7DAYS newspaper.

Nur Ozdemir, a 21-year-old nurse, said: “Today nobody wants Muslims”.

One former Trump business partner in Dubai, construction billionaire Khalaf al-Habtoor, told Reuters Trump had wrecked his prospects for successful future collaborations in the region. “They can go invest it somewhere else”.