Hussain Sajwani, the Emirati billionaire and longtime ally of Donald J. Trump, expects a surge in Gulf investments into the United States during Trump’s second term as president. Sajwani, founder of Dubai-based DAMAC Properties, highlighted the pro-business policies expected under Trump’s leadership as a key driver for this trend.
$20 Billion Investment in U.S. Data Centers
At a recent event at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, Sajwani announced plans to invest $20 billion in data centers across eight U.S. states through EDGNEX, a DAMAC subsidiary specializing in data center infrastructure. The investment is aimed at building facilities with a combined capacity of 2,000 megawatts over the next four years in states including Texas, Arizona, and Illinois.
Sajwani cited access to land, energy, and streamlined regulatory approvals as reasons for selecting these locations. The funding model for the data centers will rely heavily on debt, with 60%-70% financed through global banks using the data centers under construction as collateral. The remaining 30% will be covered by DAMAC Properties’ balance sheet.
“DAMAC’s strong financial position, supported by revenue from past real estate projects, ensures we can fund these initiatives over the next four years,” Sajwani explained, emphasizing that the business plan has undergone meticulous review.
Pro-Business Policies and Regulatory Easing
Sajwani believes Trump’s administration will prioritize regulatory easing to encourage foreign investment. While acknowledging the potential scrutiny from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), Sajwani expressed confidence that the deal would pass “the normal process” and benefit from a more favorable regulatory environment.
“We know from the overall policy of the government that it will be more encouraging to foreign investment,” he stated.
AI Leadership and Strategic Investments
Sajwani’s investments align with the UAE’s ambitions to become a global leader in artificial intelligence, an area where regional competitors like Saudi Arabia and Qatar are also heavily investing. Beyond real estate, Sajwani has diversified his portfolio with stakes in Elon Musk’s SpaceX and AI company xAI.
Trump’s Gulf Connections
Trump and his family maintain extensive business ties in the Gulf region, including branded real estate projects in Saudi Arabia and Oman. Additionally, Gulf sovereign wealth funds are significant investors in U.S. assets, further cementing economic links between the Gulf and the U.S.
As Gulf investors eye opportunities in emerging technologies and infrastructure, Sajwani’s data center investments could pave the way for greater economic collaboration between the Gulf and the U.S. His optimism about Trump’s policies underscores expectations of a pro-investment climate that could attract more capital from the region in the coming years.
