Sazan Island, located off the southern coast of Albania in the Adriatic Sea, has become a focal point of interest due to plans by Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner to develop a luxury resort complex. Despite its natural allure, the island’s challenging conditions and complex history raise significant questions about the feasibility of such a project.
The island, uninhabited except for a small contingent of Albanian soldiers, is marked by rugged terrain, dense underbrush, numerous land mines, and an abundance of venomous snakes. Its beaches consist of rocky pebbles rather than sand, making barefoot travel difficult. Nevertheless, Sazan is noted for its scenic beauty, with crystal-clear waters, vibrant wild bougainvillea, and aromatic pine trees. Unlike the bustling coastal city of Vlore nearby, the island remains notably quiet and undeveloped, with no potable water or connection to the electricity grid.
Sazan’s military past further complicates development plans. The island has been used as a base by various powers, including Italy, the Soviet Union, and Communist Albania. It still contains rusting machinery, concrete bunkers, hazardous waste such as asbestos and toxic chemicals, and unexploded ordnance. A 2015 environmental survey by the French organization Conservatoire du Littoral highlighted the island’s rich biodiversity but also emphasized the environmental risks posed by its remnants of past military use. The report recommended declaring Sazan a protected site with limited eco-tourism, cautioning against large-scale development that could harm its unique ecology.
The Albanian government holds ownership of Sazan, with Prime Minister Edi Rama stating the island is not for sale but may be available for joint ventures involving Kushner and his partners. Early conceptual designs shared by Kushner’s development company suggest plans for a resort targeting affluent clientele. Proposed features include an 800-room hotel, a golf course, and a casino, though preliminary plans indicate much of the mainland development would occur in Zvërnec, near Vlore, rather than on the island itself. The company has described the project as still being in the planning and design phase.
The project has sparked controversy amid ongoing anti-government protests in Tirana, where demonstrators criticize the government for favoritism toward wealthy and well-connected individuals. Rumors and conspiracy theories have circulated online, unfoundedly portraying the island as a site for an exclusive billionaire enclave or even a controversial political outpost.
Retired Albanian naval officer Kostandin Liko, who served on Sazan during the Communist era, recalls the island as a relatively well-supplied enclave for military personnel, isolated from the widespread poverty on the mainland. He expressed a pragmatic acceptance of development under capitalism, contrasting with protesters’ calls for greater equality and allegations of corruption.
Historically, Sazan’s strategic location—just 30 miles from Italy—made it a valuable military asset. It was occupied by various empires over centuries and served as a Soviet base before Albania expelled Soviet forces in 1961 following ideological disputes during the Cold War. Military relics, including thousands of concrete bunkers and an abandoned cinema used for Communist party gatherings, remain scattered across the island. These vestiges underscore both its turbulent past and the challenges of transforming Sazan into a modern tourist destination.
Today, access to Sazan is limited and requires a boat trip from Vlore. While the island’s future remains uncertain, it continues to embody a complex intersection of Albania’s history, natural environment, and contemporary political tensions.