SAZAN ISLAND: THE adriatic’s next billioN dollar secret
TIRANA — Albania is preparing to transform its once-forbidden military outpost, Sazan Island, into a €1.4 billion ultra-luxury eco-resort complete with private villas, a super-yacht marina, and restored heritage fortifications — a project officials say will mark the country’s debut on the global luxury tourism map.
Backed by an international consortium of investors and developers reportedly linked to U.S. and Gulf capital, the Sazan Island Resort aims to open by 2028 with two hotels, a network of beachfront residences, and a marina capable of accommodating large yachts in the Ionian Sea. The 5.7-square-kilometre island lies off the coast of Vlorë, near the entrance to the Bay of Vlorë, where the Adriatic meets the Ionian.
Once used as a restricted military zone during the Cold War, the island’s limestone cliffs and underwater caves are now central to the project’s appeal. Planners say environmental protection and sustainable energy will anchor the development, with architecture integrating recycled stone and solar micro-grids to limit disruption to the island’s ecosystem.
Government officials have described Sazan as “the next Mykonos with the soul of Montenegro,” positioning it to attract ultra-high-net-worth travellers seeking privacy, heritage, and yacht accessibility. Early concept renderings show a small fleet of tenders ferrying guests from a deep-water marina to terraced villas overlooking turquoise coves.
While no official timeline has been published, feasibility studies are under way and negotiations continue over infrastructure funding and environmental permits. Tourism analysts caution that construction challenges and regulatory hurdles could delay the island’s debut, but they also note that the project reflects Albania’s broader ambition to reposition itself as a high-end Mediterranean destination alongside Greece and Croatia.
If realised, Sazan Island Resort would represent one of southeastern Europe’s largest luxury tourism investments in over a decade — signalling that the next frontier of exclusivity may be found on a once-guarded outpost in the Adriatic.
