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A proposed integrated resort development in Albania that includes a casino has come under increasing scrutiny as protests against the project intensify and legal investigations continue into aspects of the scheme.
The multi-billion-dollar development, backed by Jared Kushner and other private investors, centres on the former military island of Sazan and the nearby Adriatic coastline close to Vlora. Preliminary plans include a luxury resort on Sazan Island alongside an 800-room hotel, golf course and casino on the mainland, although developers stress the project remains in the planning and design phase.
The development has become one of the most controversial investment projects in Albania, with thousands of demonstrators taking to the streets in recent months over concerns surrounding environmental protection, planning transparency and alleged government corruption. Protests escalated last week when clashes broke out between demonstrators and police outside the Albanian parliament in Tirana.
The resort forms part of the Albanian government’s strategy to position the country as a premium tourism destination, but campaigners argue the development threatens protected coastal habitats that are home to flamingos, sea turtles and other wildlife. The protests have evolved into a broader anti-government movement, with demonstrators calling for greater transparency over the approval process.
The project has also attracted legal scrutiny. Albanian prosecutors are investigating allegations relating to land transactions connected with the development, including claims that title deeds for part of the site may have been forged. Reuters reported there is no evidence that Kushner or the project’s developers were aware of the alleged irregularities when the land was acquired.
Developers have maintained that the project is still at an early stage and that preliminary planning documents should not be viewed as final designs. They say the development aims to create one of the largest private tourism investments in the region while delivering environmental improvements, employment opportunities and long-term economic benefits for Albania.
The scheme would transform Sazan, a former Cold War military base that currently has no permanent civilian population or tourism infrastructure, into a luxury destination. Early concept plans unveiled in 2024 envisaged hotels and villas on the island, with the casino forming part of the mainland integrated resort development.
