Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner plan a $1.4bn luxury resort on Albania’s pristine Sazan Island, balancing development with ecology.
Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner plan a $1.4bn luxury
resort on Albania’s wild Sazan Island, balancing history and ecology.
Vlore, Albania — The Trump family, led by Ivanka
Trump and Jared Kushner, has finalized the purchase of Sazan Island, a nearly
untouched Mediterranean gem off Albania’s coast, aiming to transform it into an
ultra-luxury resort. The $1.4 billion deal, approved by the Albanian government
in late 2024, promises a unique blend of high-end tourism and ecological
conservation on a historically strategic island.
Sazan Island, locally dubbed Ishulli i Trumpëve —
Trump Island — stands as one of the last undeveloped Mediterranean isles.
Covered in subtropical forests and rare flora, its 1,400 acres remain a
pristine ecological sanctuary shaped by decades of military isolation during
Albania’s communist era.
Ivanka Trump enthusiastically described the project
on the Lex Fridman podcast in July 2024, saying the family plans to engage
world-class architects and luxury brands to create “an extraordinary” resort
destination. Jared Kushner echoed this enthusiasm, calling Sazan “a treasure”
and envisioning a private paradise for family and friends.
Despite its untouched beauty, the island still
harbors remnants of its militarized past: more than 3,600 concrete bunkers and
10 miles of tunnels built during Albania’s isolation under Enver Hoxha’s
regime. Landmines and unexploded ordnance remain hazards in some areas,
restricting free exploration.
The island’s strategic location between the
Adriatic and Ionian seas has historically made it a fortress guarding the
entrance to the Bay of Vlore. During communism, up to 150 military families
lived on the island in near-total isolation, awaiting a NATO or Warsaw Pact
invasion that never came.
Now under the control of the Albanian armed forces,
the island is patrolled by a handful of sailors. The sale and development deal
was kept secret from locals and parliamentarians until media reports revealed
the $1.4 billion transaction.
Prime Minister Edi Rama champions the project as a
vital economic opportunity, stating Albania “can’t afford not to exploit a gift
like Sazan” and that the country urgently needs luxury tourism investment.
Tourism minister Mirela Kumbaro emphasized the focus on “quality over volume,”
noting Albania’s recent surge to nearly 12 million visitors in 2024 has brought
unsustainable pollution and congestion.
Affinity Global Development, Kushner’s Miami-based
real estate firm managing $4.6 billion in assets, leads the project. CEO Asher
Abehsera promised a resort “sculpted by nature,” blending seamlessly with the
subtropical environment and preserving local biodiversity, while incorporating
parts of the island’s military heritage into the design.
Environmental concerns remain strong among
activists like marine biologist Olsi Nika, who warns that development within
the Karaburun-Sazan maritime national park threatens protected beaches and
marine life. Affinity counters with hiring Arup, a global sustainable
development consultancy, pledging ecological responsibility.
Beyond Albania, Kushner and Affinity are expanding
regional ambitions, including plans in Serbia to convert the former defense
ministry in Belgrade into a luxury hotel, aided by former US envoy Richard
Grenell. This reflects a broader strategy to strengthen Western ties in the
Balkans, countering Russian and Chinese influence.
While Kushner denies any conflict of interest from
his former political role, the project raises questions about the intertwining
of private investment and geopolitical maneuvering. Local politicians largely
support the deal for its economic promise despite political opposition.
Visitors to Sazan today encounter a surreal mix of
natural wonder and Cold War relics — wild forests alongside abandoned military
bunkers and mine warnings — a unique landscape poised to transform into a
secluded haven for the ultra-rich.
Kushner acknowledges the exclusivity of the island:
“We’re creating a very high-end luxury product,” but he also affirms some
access will remain for locals and visitors to enjoy its natural trails and
cuisine.
For now, Sazan remains suspended between myth and
modernity, its future shaped by the Trump family’s vision amid the ongoing
tensions of Balkan geopolitics and environmental preservation.
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