Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump are facing widespread protests over plans to build a luxury resort on Albania's protected Sazan Island.
The project has sparked a confrontation between high-end international development and environmental preservation on a remote, uninhabited site. Critics argue that the construction would irreversibly damage a protected ecosystem for the benefit of a private enterprise.
The proposed development is estimated to cost $1.5 billion [1]. Sazan Island is currently a protected area located off the coast of Albania [2]. The scale of the project has drawn significant opposition, with thousands of people protesting the development [3].
Ivanka Trump said the project would "transform the uninhabited island and help realize its potential" [4]. The couple has framed the investment as a way to modernize the area and create a new destination for luxury tourism.
However, environmentalists and local residents have expressed fury over the plan to build on protected land [5]. Protesters said the island should remain undisturbed to preserve its natural state and ecological value. The backlash has intensified as the project moves forward in June 2026 [2].
Legal and environmental advocates have questioned the permits allowing such a massive development on a site designated for protection [2]. The controversy centers on whether the economic potential of a luxury resort outweighs the environmental cost of developing a remote island [5].
“The proposed development is estimated to cost $1.5 billion.”
The controversy over Sazan Island highlights the tension between global capital and national environmental protections. By targeting a protected, uninhabited site, the project tests the strength of Albanian land-use laws against the influence of high-profile international investors.
