UAE tycoon Khalaf Al Habtoor has described US presidential candidate Donald Trump as a “loose cannon”, saying US-Arab relations would deteriorate if he was elected.
Al Habtoor, chairman and founder of Dubai-based Al Habtoor Group, said in a television interview with Bloomberg Markets Middle East on Thursday that Trump is “very dangerous to the world”.
Trump last year drew criticism in the Arab world over his proposal to ban Muslims from entering the US.
Al Habtoor, who initially described Trump’s candidacy as “a breath of fresh air” retracted his comments in November and went on to brand him “the biggest enemy of Islam”.
The Republican Party declared Trump the party’s presumptive nominee on Tuesday after Senator Ted Cruz exited the primary race. His likely opponent in November’s presidential election will be Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton.
Some Dubai business partners severed relations or sought to end deals with Trump following his controversial comments.
One of the Middle East’s largest retailers, Landmark Group, stopped selling Trump-branded products in the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia while Saudi Arabia-based retail chain Jarir Bookstore removed books written by Trump from its shelves.
However, the firm which Trump has perhaps his most significant ties in the region – Damac Properties – is continuing to work with the US billionaire on golf courses in Dubai.
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