Dubai-based developer Damac Properties said that it will continue its partnership with United States business mogul Donald Trump despite his anti-Muslim remarks.
Trump, who is also the Republican Party’s front-runner for presidential elections, called for a “total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the US”. His comments come after a radicalised young Muslim couple gunned down 14 people in suburban California, one of the deadliest attacks in the US since 9/11.
Although his remarks sparked widespread criticism, Trump’s regional business partners are standing by him.
Damac Properties, which signed a deal with the American businessman last year to build a golf course, said that it will continue its partnership with the Trump Organisation but declined to comment on his political stance.
"We would like to stress that our agreement is with the Trump Organisation as one of the premium golf course operators in the world and as such we would not comment further on Mr Trump’s personal or political agenda, nor comment on the internal American political debate scene," Damac Properties’s senior vice president Niall McLoughlin said in a statement to the media.
A number of other United Arab Emirates-based firms such as Landmark Group and Al Tayer Group also have business links with Trump. It was reported that Lifestyle, the home décor brand of Landmark Group, has removed products from Trump Home Collection from its shelves. Meanwhile, Al Tayer Group called Trump’s comments “unfortunate” but did not outline any steps after his remarks.
By Mary Sophia
