Trump branding removed from Dubai development amid uproar

The image and name of American presidential hopeful Donald Trump was gone on Friday from much of a Dubai golfing and housing development amid the uproar over his comments about barring Muslims from traveling to the United States.

The disappearance of Trump branding from the multibillion-dollar development in the United Arab Emirates comes amid growing concern over his comments in the Middle East, where he has long sought moneymaking opportunities.

Some of his deals appear to be in jeopardy, with the company behind the Trump Towers in Istanbul now saying it is "assessing" its partnership with him.

Trump, the Republican presidential front-runner, had a deal with Damac Properties to license his name and image for the Dubai development — Akoya, a housing project and two golf courses — for an undisclosed sum. A billboard showing him and his daughter, Ivanka Trump, had been at the development.

On Friday their images had been removed, revealing the sign's brown background, though the other half of the billboard, declaring the development "the Beverly Hills of Dubai," still stood.

Also, pieces of letters that appeared to spell out "Trump" had been pulled down from a stone wall and left lying on the sandy ground. His name was still on at least one other stone wall at the property, which was being patrolled by private security guards and police.

Damac Properties has declined to comment on the removal of his name and image from the property. It earlier said it "would not comment further on Mr. Trump's personal or political agenda nor comment on the internal American political debate scene."

The company's shares have fallen in the wake of his comments, losing more than 15 percent over the past week in trading on the Dubai Financial Market.

Trump increasingly has used the licensing model in recent years, lending his name to others around the world rather than developing big real estate projects himself. Fellow developers have praised Trump as a pioneer of what they call a nearly risk-free business.

But some of his rhetoric about Islam on the campaign trail — including his call to monitor mosques and his proposal this week to temporarily bar Muslims from entering the U.S. — has led to increased wariness in the Arab world. Earlier this week, the Dubai-based Landmark Group pulled all Trump home decor products from its 180 Lifestyle stores over his comments.

The Gulf Cooperation Council on Thursday, after a meeting of its members' leaders, said, "The Supreme Council expressed its deep concern at the increase of hostile, racist and inhumane rhetoric against refugees in general and Muslims in particular." 

Wire services