Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner are trading Washington politics for the white shores of the Adriatic, launching an ambitious plan to turn 111 acres of a former Soviet military base into one of Europe’s most exclusive island resorts. The couple, now focused on global real estate, has received preliminary approval from Albania’s government for a $1.4 billion luxury hotel project on Sazan Island.
The development, led by Affinity Partners, Kushner’s private equity company, will transform Sazan Island into a “vibrant international destination for hospitality and wellness” with a five-star “eco-resort community”, which will include hotels, private villas, a marina, wellness facilities, restaurants, and walking trails, and is planned to be connected to the mainland via a ferry service.
🇺🇸🇦🇱🇷🇸 Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner's Saudi-backed firm "Affinity Partners" is pursuing billion-dollar property development projects in Albania and Serbia
— kos_data (@kos_data) March 15, 2024
– Transforming Sazan Island in Albania into a luxury eco-resort.
– In Albania's Zvërnec area near Vlora, developing… pic.twitter.com/ZsByQrjny9
“The fact that such a renowned American entrepreneur shows his interest on investing in Albania makes us very proud and happy,” a spokesperson for Prime Minister Edi Rama told The Times last year.
Tucked between the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, Sazan Island was once a Soviet- and Albanian-run naval base packed with bunkers and weapons storage. It was closed to the public for decades, and now it’s set to become a sustainable, high-end destination.
VIDEO: Secretive Albanian island awaits Trump makeover.
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) August 12, 2024
Once a Cold War military base, Albania's Sazan island is anticipating a makeover after Jared Kushner, son-in-law of former US president Donald Trump, unveiled plans alongside his wife Ivanka Trump to revamp it with a… pic.twitter.com/XbsyHxEHe2
The Sazan project will join the prestigious Aman resort network — renowned for its luxury hotels across countries like Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Mexico, Italy, Indonesia, and India — adding Albania to its global map.
“We are bringing the best architects and the best brands to the 1,400-hectare island in the Mediterranean,” said Ivanka Trump in an interview on Lex Friedman’s podcast.
#Albania's largest island, Sazan Island, is set to be developed by Ivanka Trump.
— Team Albanians (@TeamAlbanians) July 5, 2024
'We have this 1400-acre island in the Mediterranean and we're bringing in the best architects… It's gonna be extraordinary.' pic.twitter.com/fdyMgVJjAZ
The Albanian government have granted Kushner’s company official “strategic investor” status in late 2024 — a designation that offers priority access to fast-tracked permits and long-term leases for a 10-year development span. According to Mirela Kumbaro, Albania’s Minister for tourism and the environment, the agreement offers major incentives — zero taxes during the construction phase, with the government taking the responsibility for all infrastructure, including water, electricity and sewage systems.
Speaking to The Independent, Albanian tour guide Arben Kola has expressed deep concern over the Sazan Island deal, warning that many in Vlore are afraid to speak out against “Trump’s villas” for fear of losing their businesses.
Environmental groups have warned that the island — now part of the Karaburun-Sazan National Marine Park — is home to fragile ecosystems, including endangered birds and marine life. They worry that building on this scale could permanently disrupt one of the Mediterranean’s last relatively untouched coastal zones.
According to Albanian local media, nearly 12 million foreign tourists visited the country in 2024 — a 15% rise from the year before. Minister Kumbaro warned that it’s “too many for us, and too much pollution,” pointing to the project as a balanced solution: “Sazan is the way to go. The ideal recipe: nature and luxury tourism.”
With $4.6 billion financial backing from Saudi Arabia and other sovereign wealth funds in the Middle East, the project is expected to create roughly 1,000 jobs during both the construction and operational phases. Affinity Partners is reportedly exploring investment opportunities in other parts of the Balkans, as the firm is also pursuing a luxury hotel project in Belgrade, Serbia, where it plans to redevelop the former defence ministry building.
Kushner’s expanding ventures in the Balkans underscore a broader push to transform Southeast Europe’s historic sites into luxury real estate, promising economic potential and global visibility, yet raising some questions about environmental impact.
