{"id":6063,"date":"2025-06-27T12:11:40","date_gmt":"2025-06-27T10:11:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/expatax.al\/?p=6063"},"modified":"2025-07-01T17:03:37","modified_gmt":"2025-07-01T15:03:37","slug":"all-we-know-about-trumps-island-in-albania","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/expatax.al\/de\/all-we-know-about-trumps-island-in-albania\/","title":{"rendered":"All We Know About &#8220;Trump\u2019s Island&#8221; in Albania"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>You might\u2019ve heard the rumors that have been going on for a while\u2026 and yes, they are true. According to <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2025\/jun\/24\/trump-family-kushner-undeveloped-island-mediterranean-sazan-albania\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">The Guardian<\/a><\/em> and other reliable sources, Jared Kushner, Donald Trump\u2019s son-in-law, and Ivanka Trump are behind a billion-euro resort project on a small, mysterious island off the coast of Albania. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s a breakdown of everything we know so far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"where-is-this-trump-island\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where Is This \u201cTrump Island\u201d?<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"510\" src=\"https:\/\/expatax.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-1024x510.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6064\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/expatax.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-1024x510.png 1024w, https:\/\/expatax.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-300x150.png 300w, https:\/\/expatax.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-768x383.png 768w, https:\/\/expatax.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-18x9.png 18w, https:\/\/expatax.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-380x189.png 380w, https:\/\/expatax.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-550x274.png 550w, https:\/\/expatax.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-800x399.png 800w, https:\/\/expatax.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-1160x578.png 1160w, https:\/\/expatax.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image.png 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Image source: <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Sazan_Island,_Albania_2016_02.jpg\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Wikimedia<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The project is based on Sazan Island, a beautiful island that sits just off the coast of Vlor\u00eb, where the Adriatic meets the Ionian. It&#8217;s Albania\u2019s largest island, yet it\u2019s been uninhabited for decades; off-limits, mysterious, and wrapped in Cold War history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once a strategic military base, Sazan was used by both the Soviets and later the Albanian military. Its hidden tunnels, abandoned bunkers, and history of chemical weapons testing have long fueled curiosity for visitors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can already visit nearby by going on a boat trip, which is widely popular and accessible to witness its turquoise waters and raw, untouched terrain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"whos-behind-the-project\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who\u2019s Behind the Project?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The development is led by Jared Kushner through his private equity firm Affinity Partners, which is backed by major investors (including Saudi funds).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Ivanka Trump<\/strong> is also involved.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Aman Resorts<\/strong>, a high-end hotel chain, will manage the luxury property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Carbone<\/strong>, a popular restaurant brand, is in talks to handle food and drinks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The project will include luxury villas, a hotel, restaurants, and possibly even a marina for yachts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"how-much-is-being-invested\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Much Is Being Invested<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Albania has approved the development and granted it \u201cstrategic investor\u201d status. This means the estimated cost is <strong>over \u20ac1.4 billion<\/strong>, and the developers will get special benefits like tax breaks and fast-track permits. Also, the government expects this development will create around <strong>1,000 new jobs<\/strong>!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"but-what-about-the-environment\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">But What About the Environment?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This is where things get tricky. Sazan Island is inside a <strong>protected marine park<\/strong>, and environmentalists are raising red flags.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The island still has unexploded weapons and toxic chemicals.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It\u2019s home to important wildlife and plant species.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Albania recently changed its laws to make developments in protected areas easier\u2014which caused some controversy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Supporters of the project say cleanup is part of the plan, and some of the bunkers will be preserved as part of the resort\u2019s design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"a-cold-war-past-a-luxury-future\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">A Cold War Past, A Luxury Future?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Once a forbidden island cloaked in secrecy, Sazan was home to Soviet bunkers, underground tunnels, and Cold War whispers. For years, it sat untouched, off-limits to the public, echoing with memories of military drills and hidden operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But now? It feels almost unreal to witness what\u2019s coming next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sazan is on the edge of a complete transformation. From a ghost of Albania\u2019s communist past, it\u2019s set to become a playground for the ultra-wealthy, a high-end tourist destination wrapped in exclusivity. It somehow feels unreal to witness all this. Some might see opportunity: investment, jobs, and Albania stepping confidently into the global spotlight. Others might worry about what\u2019s being lost: history, access, and authenticity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"what-happens-next\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Happens Next?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A preliminary agreement has already been signed. The plan is in motion, even if the island still needs serious cleanup before anything is built. Decades of abandonment left behind a mess of crumbling bunkers, barbed wire, and decay, but that\u2019s all part of the process now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Meanwhile, a brand-new airport near Vlor\u00eb is under construction, aiming to make the area more accessible for international visitors. The bigger picture is clear: Albania is preparing to welcome high-end tourism on a scale it\u2019s never seen before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What\u2019s interesting is that the final design is expected to keep some of Sazan\u2019s original military features. It won\u2019t be a full erase, it\u2019ll be a transformation. A contrast between old and new, secrecy and luxury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here&#8217;s a summarised table to give you a better insight of what this major project involves:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"summary-table\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Summary Table<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table aligncenter\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Topic<\/th><th>Details<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td> Location<\/td><td>Sazan Island, near Vlor\u00eb<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Developers<\/td><td>Jared Kushner &amp; Ivanka Trump<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Brands<\/td><td>Aman Resorts (hotel), Carbone (dining)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Cost<\/td><td>Over \u20ac1.4 billion<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Jobs<\/td><td>Estimated 1,000+<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Concerns<\/td><td>Environmental impact, past military use<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Status<\/td><td>Approved, but construction hasn&#8217;t started<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"sources-further-reading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sources &amp; Further Reading<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are the most credible sources reporting on this story:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2025\/jun\/24\/trump-family-kushner-undeveloped-island-mediterranean-sazan-albaniahttps:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2025\/jun\/24\/trump-family-kushner-undeveloped-island-mediterranean-sazan-albania\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">The Guardian \u2013 Trump family island plan<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/business\/albania-approves-luxury-resort-project-linked-jared-kushners-company-2025-01-16\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Reuters \u2013 Albania approves luxury resort project<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/pagesix.com\/2024\/07\/03\/gossip\/ivanka-trump-jared-kushner-to-open-luxury-aman-in-albania\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Page Six \u2013 Aman resort in Albania<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lemonde.fr\/en\/environment\/article\/2024\/06\/17\/in-albania-europe-s-last-natural-delta-threatened-by-donald-trump-s-son-in-law-s-plans_6674966_114.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Le Monde \u2013 Environmental concerns<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sazan_Island_Resort\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Wikipedia \u2013 Sazan Island Resort<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"What\u2019s really going on with &#8216;Trump\u2019s Island&#8217; in Albania? Here\u2019s everything we know so far","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":6064,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"csco_singular_sidebar":"","csco_page_header_type":"","csco_appearance_masonry":"","csco_page_load_nextpost":"","csco_post_video_location":[],"csco_post_video_location_hash":"","csco_post_video_url":"","csco_post_video_bg_start_time":0,"csco_post_video_bg_end_time":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[117],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-6063","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-doing-business-in-albania","8":"cs-entry","9":"cs-video-wrap"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/expatax.al\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6063","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/expatax.al\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/expatax.al\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expatax.al\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expatax.al\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6063"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/expatax.al\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6063\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6070,"href":"https:\/\/expatax.al\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6063\/revisions\/6070"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expatax.al\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6064"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/expatax.al\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6063"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expatax.al\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6063"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expatax.al\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6063"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}