Controversial Luxury Resort Plans on Albania's Sazan Island Spark Protests
Luxury Development Plans on Sazan Island
Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner's initiative to create a luxury resort on Sazan Island, a protected area in Albania, has ignited protests and led to an official inquiry regarding alterations to the island's conservation status. In a recent podcast with David Senra, Ivanka Trump elaborated on their vision for Sazan Island, an uninhabited location along Albania's Adriatic coast that has remained mostly untouched. The project is being advanced through Kushner's investment firm, Affinity Partners, which received initial approval from Albanian officials in 2024. Trump recounted how they discovered the island during a boat trip, stating, "We were on a friend's boat, and we stopped for a swim. That's how we found it. We swam to the islands and hiked barefoot to the top, completely captivated by its beauty." She emphasized their intention to develop the area responsibly, given its stunning landscape.
The proposed resort, estimated to cost around $1.4 billion, has encountered significant backlash from environmentalists and local communities. Reports indicate that Albania's Special Structure Against Corruption and Organised Crime (SPAK) has initiated an investigation into the modifications made in 2024 to the island's protected status, which facilitated the tourism development plans. Protests have erupted in Tirana and the nearby Zvernec peninsula, with social media users echoing phrases like "Albania is not for sale" and "Hands off Albanian soil." Sazan Island, strategically located near the Strait of Otranto, has a military history dating back to the communist regime of Enver Hoxha, where it was a fortified base. Today, remnants of this past, including bunkers and unexploded ordnance, coexist with its rich natural environment, which supports diverse wildlife such as seals and flamingos.
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has expressed strong support for the development. In a 2024 interview with a media outlet, he remarked that Albania "can't afford to overlook a gift like Sazan," emphasizing the need for luxury tourism. During a parliamentary address, he assured that the plans would not encroach on the island's protected areas. In a subsequent Facebook post, Rama described the initiative as part of a vision to establish the most appealing destination on this side of the Mediterranean. Ivanka Trump has previously shared her enthusiasm for the project, stating on another podcast in 2024, "I'm collaborating with my husband on this 1,400-acre island in the Mediterranean, bringing in top architects and brands." Proponents of the project argue it could lead to substantial investment in the region, with Asher Abehsera, chairman of the development firm, expressing excitement about creating a world-class destination and making one of the largest private investments in the area's history.