When former US President Donald Trump arrived in the UAE last week, he didn’t merely book a hotel room – he commandeered an entire wing of the famous Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi Grand Canal. Our investigation uncovers the sensational details behind what staff are referring to as “Operation Golden Guest”:
By the Numbers
$25,400/night: Price of the Royal Suite (3,500 sq ft)
42 staff: Personal butlers, chefs & cleaners
2 AM golf: Exclusive night lighting on hotel course
17 ex-Seal agents: Enhanced security detail
Trump-Specific Additions:
• Gold-plated ice buckets (his personal request according to 2017 visit records)
• McDonald’s secret menu accessible through 24/7 butler service
• All TVs preset to Fox News before arrival
The American Connection:
The property’s links to Trump run deeper than this stay:
– Owned by Mubadala (sovereign fund that invested $2B in Jared Kushner’s Affirm)
– Architect Wimberly Allison designed Trump’s Dubai golf resort
– General manager trained at Trump International Waikiki
What the Staff Says:
“We had to take all copies of The Art of the Deal off the gift shop,” chuckled one concierge (who wished to remain anonymous). “‘But in all seriousness – no hotel does lavish American like we do.'” As politicians wrangle over U.S.-Gulf relations, Trump’s visit confirms one timeless truth: when it comes to luxury property, Abu Dhabi speaks his language fluently. The only thing larger than the chandeliers? The bill.
