Ivanka Trump 'swam' to a 1,400-Hectare Mediterranean island. Now she and Jared Kushner are building a $1.5 billion resort there

Ivanka Trump, daughter of US President Donald Trump, has revealed that she swam to a 1,400-hectare, off-grid Mediterranean island to scout her next project. That island, largely untouched and off-grid for decades, is now at the center of one of the Mediterranean's most ambitious luxury tourism developments.

Together with her husband, Jared Kushner, Ivanka is backing a massive resort project on Albania's rugged coastline that could reshape one of Europe's last undeveloped seaside regions.

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The Island That Captured Ivanka Trump's Attention

The project is focused on Sazan Island, a former military outpost located between the Adriatic and Ionian seas.

Ivanka previously described being captivated by the island's natural beauty after exploring the area. The island remained largely inaccessible for decades due to its military history and still contains remnants of old bunkers and defense infrastructure.

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"I am working on an incredible project with my husband in the Mediterranean. It's massive... a 1,400 hectare island in the middle of the Mediterranean. We stopped for a swim and that's how we found it. We swam to the island, went up to the top and we were just captivated," Ivanka Trump can be heard saying in a now viral video.

What Exactly Are They Building?

The development plan involves transforming the island into a high-end luxury destination. According to Albanian government approvals and project details released so far, the proposal includes:

Luxury hotels and private villas

Marina and waterfront facilities

Exclusive hospitality and leisure spaces

Eco-focused tourism infrastructure

Large-scale landscape restoration and cleanup work

The investment has been valued at roughly €1.4 billion (around $1.5 billion), making it one of the largest tourism projects ever proposed in Albania. Authorities expect the development to generate around 1,000 jobs during construction and operation.

Why Sazan Island Is Different

Unlike many Mediterranean destinations that have already seen extensive development, Sazan Island has remained almost untouched.

The island covers hundreds of hectares and is known for its dramatic cliffs, hidden coves, military tunnels and rich biodiversity. Because of decades of restricted access, much of its coastline has remained in a natural state.

Supporters See a Tourism Opportunity

Albanian officials have promoted the project as a chance to attract affluent international travelers and accelerate the country's growing tourism sector.

The Albanian government granted strategic investor status to a company linked to Kushner's development plans, allowing the project to move forward through environmental reviews and planning stages.

Albania's Riviera has become increasingly popular in recent years thanks to its turquoise waters, lower costs compared with many Western European destinations, and relatively undeveloped beaches.

Environmental Concerns Continue to Grow

Environmental groups and conservation advocates have raised concerns about the impact large-scale construction could have on the island's ecosystems and nearby protected coastal areas. Some organizations have called for further scrutiny of the plans, arguing that the region contains valuable habitats and marine species that could be affected by development.

The debate has turned the project into one of the most closely watched tourism developments in the Balkans.

What reportedly began with Ivanka Trump's exploration of a remote Mediterranean island has evolved into a billion-dollar proposal that could transform a forgotten military outpost into a luxury tourism hotspot.

Whether it becomes a model for high-end sustainable tourism or remains a source of controversy, the Sazan Island project is already drawing international attention—and putting Albania's coastline firmly in the global spotlight.