Trump Tower in Damascus: Inside Syria’s bold proposal
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A Trump Tower in Damascus? Syria pitchesd a $200M project to court Trump, aiming to lift sanctions and invite US investment after Assad’s ouster.
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The facade of Trump Tower is shown in New York, Friday, March 22, 2024. (AP/Ted Shaffrey)
A bold plan to construct a Trump Tower in Damascus has emerged as part of Syria’s attempt to rebuild international relations and end decades-long US sanctions, offering a symbolic pivot from war to reconstruction.
With a proposed height of 45 stories and a price tag of up to $200 million, the tower aimed to catch the attention of US President Donald Trump.
“This project is our message, that this country, which has suffered for years, deserves peace,” said Walid Mohammad al-Zoubi, chairman of the UAE-based Tiger Group, the firm backing the initiative. The group, valued at $5 billion, is also behind Dubai’s Tiger Sky Tower and has completed hundreds of projects across the region, as reported by The Guardian.
According to The Guardian, the tower proposal came as Syria’s new government, which replaced Bashar al-Assad following his ousting by opposition factions in December, launched a diplomatic and economic charm offensive aimed at normalizing ties with Washington.
The outreach included offers of oil access, investment opportunities, and security guarantees for “Israel.”
From mock-up to permit: Damascus plans take shape
With US sanctions lifted just last week following a meeting between Trump and Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, the Trump Tower project has gained momentum. Zoubi is reportedly heading to Damascus to apply for the necessary building permits.
“We’re looking at several locations. We’re proposing 45 floors, subject to change,” he said. Construction is estimated to take three years once franchise rights from the Trump Organization and legal approvals are secured.
Images of the early design, yet to carry the Trump logo, were shared privately, as formal franchising talks have not yet begun. Still, the vision is ambitious The Guardian said: a gleaming skyscraper that replaces images of devastation with steel, glass, and opulence.
The idea reportedly originated in December, when Republican Congressman Joe Wilson floated the proposal before Congress. The plan was soon taken up by Radwan Ziadeh, a Syrian writer close to the new government, who introduced it to Zoubi. Together, they pushed the proposal to key figures in Washington and Riyadh, according to The Guardian.
هذا هو التصميم الأولي لبرج ترامب في دمشق والذي سيرى النور قريبا ..
— Radwan Ziadeh رضوان زيادة (@radwanziadeh) May 13, 2025
This is the first design of Trump Tower in Damascus pic.twitter.com/q4wiqfCurR
Diplomatic efforts accelerated, according to The Guardian. Syrian President al-Sharaa hosted American business leaders and congressional delegations, while Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani met with Trump-aligned religious leaders in New York. In April, Ziadeh presented the Trump Tower mock-up to Shibani and later to the Saudi ambassador in Damascus, hoping it would reach Trump’s inner circle through Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman.
Ziadeh cited Trump’s February video referencing a Trump Tower in Gaza as inspiration, seeing it as a window of opportunity. “This is how you win his mind and heart,” he said, The Guardian wrote.
Can real estate signal peace amid postwar poverty?
The tower’s promoters hope the project will serve as a catalyst for foreign investment in Syria, with international firms encouraged to follow. Yet critics remain skeptical about the priorities. The UN reports that 90% of Syrians live in poverty, often without electricity or medical care, according to The Guardian.
Zoubi has framed the skyscraper as a symbol of rebirth. One image shared with the press shows a bombed skyline transformed by a sleek high-rise.
“The project is about how the wartorn country is transitioning to a place of light and beauty,” he said. “It’s symbolic, contributing to security and peace.”
Still, challenges remain. The long-term structure of sanctions relief, Syria’s devastated infrastructure, and political uncertainties could slow progress, The Guardian wrote. But if it moves forward, Trump Tower Damascus may become one of the most controversial monuments in the postwar Middle East, a blend of real estate, politics, and diplomacy etched in steel.
