Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner are planning to transform Sazan into a luxury resort as Albania becomes an increasingly popular holiday destination, but the small island has a dark past
Sazan Island, located off the coast of Albania’s secluded Karaburun Peninsula, is one of Europe’s most enigmatic and least-known destinations. But that’s about to change.
Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner, have splashed out over $1 billion on this small Albanian island, one of the last undeveloped islands in the Mediterranean. The couple has plans to transform it into a luxury resort as Albania emerges as a hot new vacation spot.
But before they can roll out the red carpet for guests, they’ll need to tackle some serious issues tied to the island’s murky past. Despite its breathtaking sunsets, crystal-clear waters, rainforest-covered mountains, and subtropical climate, Sazan isn’t your typical paradise.
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The 1,400-acre island, now known as Ishulli i Trumpëve – or Trump Island – by locals, has a dark military history and is littered with unexploded ordnance. Situated at the entrance to the bay of Vlorë, in the strait of Otranto that separates Italy from Albania, Sazan was once a strategic submarine and chemical weapons base for the Soviet Union during the Cold War.
The island was a crucial part of Albania’s military defense. For years, soldiers stationed on the island were on high alert for an attack from NATO or Warsaw Pact members.
By the 1970s, around 150 military families resided at a military base on the island, complete with living quarters, a theater, a school, and a hospital. The island’s network of underground bunkers and tunnels, designed to withstand nuclear attacks, remains hidden beneath its rugged terrain.
Skull and crossbones signs scattered across the island serve as a stark reminder of landmines. Approximately 3,600 abandoned bunkers are scattered across Sazan.
Some of these are reportedly set to be preserved and incorporated into Kushner and Trump’s real estate venture. The couple will also have to clear many areas of unexploded ordnance.
Currently, the Albanian armed forces control the island, with three sailors on patrol duty. In the summer of 2017, a small part of the island was officially opened to tourists.
For the first time, visitors could explore its untouched beaches, deserted military structures, and chilling Cold War relics. Despite its tumultuous history, Sazan Island is a haven for nature enthusiasts.
The island is encircled by crystal-clear waters, rocky cliffs, and secluded coves that provide stunning views of the Adriatic and Ionian Seas. Soon, it could be swarming with luxury travelers.
Speaking on the Lex Fridman podcast in July 2024, Ivanka revealed her plans for Sazan. “I’m working with my husband, we have this 1,400-acre island in the Mediterranean and we’re bringing in the best architects and the best brands,” she said.
“It’s going to be extraordinary,” she added. In an interview with The Guardian that same month, Kushner expressed his vision “to create the ideal resort that I’d want to be at with my family and with my friends”.
He shared that he was utterly astounded when he first laid eyes on the island in 2021. “I was just very surprised that something like that existed in the middle of the Mediterranean and hadn’t been developed,” he reminisced.
On December 30, 2024, the Albanian government gave preliminary approval to Trump and Kushner’s project, granting strategic investor status to Atlantic Incubation Partners LLC, a company associated with Donald Trump’s son-in-law.
“The projected investment of ‘Sazan Island Touristic Resort’ of 1.4 billion euros fulfils the criteria foreseen in the legislation on strategic investments,” read the government decision awarding the status. “The projected investment fulfils the criteria on the number of jobs as requested by the legislation on strategic investments. During the development and operational parts of the investment, the employment of 1,000 people is foreseen,” the decision further stated.
