In the heart of the Mediterranean, between the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, lies the island of Sazan, a small, unexplored and almost untouched natural paradise that is poised to become the new face of ultra-luxury tourism. Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner have acquired this 566-hectare Albanian island for an estimated value of more than $1 billion, with the intention of turning it into an exclusive luxury resort. The venture, still in the preliminary stages but already approved by the Albanian government in late December 2024, represents one of the most ambitious real estate projects in the region. The government has defended the deal, considering it a strategic investment to boost high-end tourism in the country.
In addition, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama does not rule out that such operations also have geopolitical significance: “We need to keep Serbia in the Western sphere and remove it from Moscow’s influence,” he said. With this investment with a strong symbolic value, Rama reaffirms Albania’s alignment with the West and emphasizes the country’s active role in the region, including vis-à-vis strategic players such as Serbia.
Sazan is characterized by lush subtropical flora covering mountains, ravines and valleys: lavender, rare ferns, maritime pines, oaks and rosemary coexist in extraordinary biodiversity. However, as a former military base of Albania’s communist regime, the island is littered with bunkers, tunnels and unexploded ordnance, legacies of the Cold War.
As the Guardian reports, Jared Kushner said he has been fascinated by the island’s potential since he first surveyed it in 2021, amazed that such a pristine place still existed in the Mediterranean. Together with partner Asher Abehsera, co-founder of Affinity Global Development, and with the support of the Albanian government, the project took shape. Affinity Partners, Kushner’s Miami-based firm that manages more than $4.6 billion in assets, will handle the development, in partnership with Arup, a global sustainable engineering firm.
The resort will include the creation of a luxury hotel “carved into nature,” as described by Abehsera, and a yacht marina in San Nicolo Bay. The buildings will be designed to blend harmoniously with the environment, and part of the old communist bunkers will be restored and repurposed.
However, there is no shortage of criticism. The island is part of the Karaburun-Sazan Marine National Park, and environmentalists such as Olsi Nika, director of EcoAlbania, fear the ecological impact of the project. Construction, boat traffic, drains and public works could compromise a pristine and hitherto protected ecosystem. The beaches and waters around the island are constrained by environmental regulations that limit development.
Despite promises of sustainability and inclusiveness, questions remain about the island’s accessibility to the public. Kushner speaks openly of “a high-end luxury product” and stresses the need to provide privacy for guests.
