Saudi luxury real estate developer Dar Global is looking to fund as much as 70% of its latest project—the Trump International Hotel in the Maldives—by selling blockchain-based investment tokens directly to U.S. retail investors, CEO Ziad El Chaar told Reuters in London.
The London-listed company is one of The Trump Organization’s most prominent international partners, with seven projects currently underway, including an 80-storey tower in Dubai, a golf resort in Qatar, and luxury hotels and residences across Saudi Arabia and Oman.
A shift from traditional real estate financing
Large property developments are typically funded by institutional investors or wealthy family offices. Dar Global’s move to offer tokenized stakes marks a significant shift—one aimed at tapping the world’s largest crypto investor market: the United States.
“We would like to tokenize 70% of that development fund to as many token holders as possible,”
El Chaar said.
“The biggest crypto market and the biggest amount of investors are in the U.S.”
In discussions with U.S. regulators
Dar Global confirmed that it is in active discussions with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to explore potential pathways for offering the tokens to U.S. retail buyers. The firm is also evaluating options in other jurisdictions.
The Trump Organization and the SEC did not immediately comment.
Political sensitivity — but Dar Global isn’t worried
When asked about the added scrutiny that may come from its partnership with The Trump Organization, El Chaar dismissed concerns:
“Obviously, with the Trump brand, you have the politics involved, but from our side, this is not our domain.”
Tokenization and real estate
The attempt to tokenize up to 70% of a major hospitality project reflects a broader industry shift toward blockchain-enabled real estate financing, which promises greater access, global reach, and potentially more flexible investor participation.
If approved, Dar Global’s move could become one of the largest tokenized luxury real estate offerings to date, and a landmark experiment in merging crypto markets with high-end property development.