Is 'Qatar City' Being Built in Arizona? State Officials Say No

A viral claim about Qatar building a 6,000-acre development called "Qatar City" in Arizona has prompted responses from state lawmakers, though officials say no such project has been approved.

The controversy involves roughly 6,500 acres near Phoenix, next to a facility owned by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), a $1.5 trillion tech supplier that makes chips for Apple and Nvidia.

The Arizona State Land Department issued a statement explaining that a local real estate firm created a "Qatar City" concept without the department's knowledge or approval. The state has received no application for the project.

The Department included a timeline dating back to October 2021, when Pulte Homes, a national homebuilder, applied to purchase about 6,500 acres. After years of preparation, the company completed zoning in December 2025.

Most of the land was zoned for homes, but 900 acres were designated for industrial use.

TSMC bought those 900 industrial acres at public auction on January 7, 2026. The remaining 5,600 acres are still under application by Pulte Homes for residential development.

The "Qatar City" proposal was reportedly submitted by Khalid Shair, who court records show has connections to Qatar Islamic Bank.

Political Response

Investigative journalist Laura Loomer questioned Congressman Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ) about the proposal on X, noting he had visited Qatar over Thanksgiving.

Hamadeh then responded, "This is a real estate proposal from an outside investor. This plan has NO approval or plan to move forward in Phoenix. In fact, the land in question has recently been purchased by TSMC and a separate America First real estate investor."

Senate President Warren Petersen (R-AZ) announced the legislature is working on bills addressing foreign law. "We have at least two bills at the legislature that address Sharia law," he wrote, adding that Arizona already prohibits recognition of foreign laws.

Currently, Senate Bill 1018 was introduced to the state Senate on January 14. If passed, it would explicitly name Sharia law as foreign law that courts cannot apply if it violates constitutional rights.

Despite viral claims, there is no approved "Qatar City" plan. The land has been purchased by TSMC for manufacturing, while the remaining acreage is being considered for standard residential development by an American homebuilder.