Gulf Arab leaders are set to convene with their Egyptian and Jordanian counterparts this Friday in Riyadh, aiming to devise a collective response to President Trump’s contentious proposal regarding the redevelopment of Gaza, which includes potentially relocating its Palestinian population. This strategic meeting will serve as a precursor to a larger Arab League summit scheduled for March 4 in Egypt.

Recently, President Trump suggested that the United States could take charge of Gaza’s redevelopment, envisioning it as the “Riviera of the Middle East.” This proposal, which entails displacing Palestinian residents to nearby nations such as Egypt and Jordan, sparked widespread shock and indignation throughout the Arab world. Trump’s team has since framed this as a challenge for Middle Eastern leaders to present a more suitable alternative.

In response, Secretary of State Marco Rubio remarked last week, “These nations often express their concern for the Palestinians. If they have a more effective plan, that would be fantastic.”

Arab nations, including Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, are now engaged in urgent discussions to formulate their own proposal for Gaza. Their plan aims to facilitate reconstruction efforts, financially supported and managed by Arab nations while ensuring the retention of the existing population and maintaining the possibility of a Palestinian state.

Various ambitious ideas have been proposed for Gaza’s future, but few have gained significant momentum. The latest plan comes from Khalaf al-Habtoor, a prominent Emirati real estate developer, who has introduced a comprehensive framework aimed at rebuilding the region within “a matter of years, not decades.”

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