Cuba Signals openness to Arab investor's plan for a Trump-branded resort

Cuban authorities are entertaining a plan presented by Ali Bin Haidar, president of the Dubai-based Abdulla Ali Bin Haidar Group, to develop a Trump-branded resort on Cayo Santa María, a white-sand island north of Havana. The design calls for two towers topped with golden domes and would rename the area “Trump Island.” A letter of intent to acquire the land has been signed with the Cuban government, though final approval from the Trump organization has not yet been secured.

Vice minister of foreign affairs Carlos Fernández de Cossío said the government sees no reason to block a peaceful Trump investment, while acknowledging U.S. statutes would restrict any direct involvement. The proposal emerges as Cuba faces crippling shortages, power failures, and a historic low in tourism arrivals, prompting officials to court investors from the United States and elsewhere. Other potential investors, including Egyptian businessman Ahmed Faisal, have also expressed interest in various sectors. Cuba’s push for foreign capital underscores the urgency of its economic crisis under extensive sanctions.