It seems the real estate world has officially lost its collective mind, or perhaps it just found a really impressive set of PowerPoint slides. Last week at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Jared Kushner unveiled a “master plan” to turn the war torn Gaza Strip into a glitzy Mediterranean resort. We are talking about skyscrapers, tree lined promenades, and luxury hotels rising from a landscape currently covered in an estimated 68 million tonnes of rubble.
President Donald Trump, a man who has never met a piece of coastline he didn’t want to slap his name on, called it a “beautiful piece of property.” He even suggested the transformation could take just three years. Apparently, in the world of high end property development, war is just a minor zoning issue that can be solved with enough glass, steel, and a $25 billion investment.
The Pitch: “New Gaza” and “Project Sunrise”
Kushner’s vision, dubbed “Project Sunrise,” treats Gaza less like a traumatised society and more like a blank canvas for high tech infrastructure. The proposal includes a “New Rafah” featuring 100,000 housing units and a “smart city” in Gaza City.
| Project Phase | Focus Area | Goal |
| Phase One | Rafah & Khan Younis | Rubble removal and initial housing. |
| Phase Two | Central Camps | Expanded residential development. |
| Phase Three | Gaza City | High-tech “smart city” hubs. |
| Phase Four | Coastline | 180 luxury skyscrapers and tourism. |
Real Estate over Rights?
Critics have pointed out a few tiny, insignificant details that the plan seems to have missed. For instance, nobody actually consulted the people living in Gaza. Then there is the matter of the ongoing blockade and the fact that most of the territory is currently a graveyard. To many Palestinians, the idea of building a “Mediterranean utopia” on top of their destroyed homes feels less like a helping hand and more like an imperial land grab.
The plan also hinges on the total disarming of Hamas, which the group has politely declined. While Kushner touts “catastrophic success” and a $10 billion GDP within a decade, experts are scratching their heads. It is one thing to build a hotel in Las Vegas; it is quite another to build a “Riviera” in a territory that is still militarily besieged and politically explosive.
The Bottom Line
While Trump and Kushner talk about location, location, location, the rest of the world is wondering about justice, rights, and reality. The proposal offers zero insight into land ownership or legal accountability for the recent conflict. Instead, it offers renders of flashy high rises and promises of “100 percent full employment.”
It is a bold strategy to try and solve one of the world’s most complex conflicts with a real estate brochure. But hey, if you have a spare few billion and don’t mind a bit of a fixer-upper, the Gaza waterfront is apparently open for business.
Who is Buying the “New Gaza”?
If you ever wanted to see a game of Monopoly played with actual countries and billions of dollars, look no further than the 2025–2026 investment list. A group of wealthy nations and private investors is currently lining up to turn the ruins into a “Mediterranean hub.” The price tag is a casual $25 billion to $112 billion, depending on which slide of the PowerPoint you believe.
| Investor/Region | The Role in the Plan |
| United Arab Emirates (UAE) | The “early bird” financier. Planning to bankroll the first “planned community” near Rafah. |
| United States | The “anchor” backer. Pushing the “Project Sunrise” vision with billions in grants and loans. |
| Qatar | The veteran donor. Expected to keep the lights on and coordinate initial aid with Israel. |
| Saudi Arabia | The potential heavyweight. Tapped as a major contributor to settle the massive bill. |
| EU, UK, & Germany | The humanitarian support. Backing Arab-led plans while keeping a distance from the “Board.” |
| World Bank & UN | The technical crew. Tasked with the impossible job of clearing the rubble. |
The “Board of Peace” and a Familiar Face
Overseeing this whole operation is the “Board of Peace,” chaired by Donald Trump himself. It is a US led body designed to manage the transition from conflict to luxury. But it is the name of a certain Executive Board member that is really making people twitch: Sir Tony Blair.
Whenever Tony Blair’s name is involved in Middle Eastern “reconstruction,” it is usually enough to make anyone break out in a nervous sweat. His legacy in the region is, shall we say, a bit complicated. Seeing him back in the mix to oversee “New Gaza” feels like a strange blast from the past. The plan focuses heavily on luxury skyscrapers and “smart cities” while the actual people of Gaza are still living in tents.
Just don’t expect the locals to be waiting at the check in desk with a smile.
