Jared Kushner is building luxury resorts in Albania and Serbia

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by Mary K. Jacob

Jared Kushner, former President Donald Trump's son-in-law and a prominent figure in American politics, has set his sights on the Balkans with three innovative real estate developments spanning Albania and Serbia.

Kushner's move into the region comes as his Miami-based private equity firm, Affinity Partners, aims to invest more than $1 billion in hopes of reshaping southeastern Europe's tourism and real estate landscape. The meeting was held in the midst of high-level consultations.

Among its ambitious projects is transforming Albania's Sazan Island, a former military base, into a luxury Aman-branded eco-resort community.

“The ability to develop three miles of beautiful coastline and a 1,400-acre island in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea is unique,” Kushner told the Post.

“The water is crystal blue, like in the Maldives. It's beautiful. The beaches are amazing, but this is one of those really special places.”

Teaming up with his friend Rick Grenell, a former U.S. ambassador to Germany, and New York City developer Asher Avecera, Kushner will join Albania's burgeoning tourism sector, driven by rapid growth and international recognition. I'm attracted to

Remarkably, Ksamil, Albania is ranked as a top global destination on Airbnb, making it a hotspot for travelers seeking unspoiled beauty and historical intrigue as the country emerges from its communist past. It reflects what happened.

Once known as the “North Korea of ​​Europe,” Albania has evolved and now boasts macroeconomic stability, a rapidly growing tourism industry, and increasing attractiveness to international investors.

UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organization) data highlights that Albania has established itself as the fastest growing tourist destination in Europe, on a par with global powers such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia. I am.

The appeal of the Balkans extends beyond Albania, with Affinity eyeing another venture in the Serbian capital, Belgrade.

Here, Mr. Kushner plans to revitalize the historic area, which has been vacant since the 1999 NATO airstrike, and envisions a luxury hotel, commercial space and more than 1,500 residential units.

And it's not hard to see why Mr. Kushner would want a piece of that pie.

A New York Times article highlighted Belgrade as “Europe's new cocktail capital.”

“This building also has historical significance,” Kushner explained. “Transforming something from an eyesore to a landmark that creates jobs and income for the city is a lot of fun to be involved in.”

Mr. Kushner's business coincides with the region's broader economic transformation.

But it's not just the charm of sandy beaches and azure sea.

As Affinity takes on these bold initiatives, Kushner recognizes that Affinity has the potential to foster further development in the region and create the next hotbed of tourism and investment.

“It won't be a secret for very long,” Kushner said.

Still in the early stages of development, it is unclear when these projects will be completed.

A draft agreement provided to the Times said the Serbian government would give Kushner a 99-year free lease and access to build a luxury hotel, apartment complex and museum at the historic site.

But Kushner's decision to develop in Belgrade did not come completely out of the blue. In 2013, two years before his presidential bid, Trump told Serbian government officials of his own vision of building a luxury hotel on his property.

Representatives from the Trump Organization traveled to Belgrade to assess the scene. However, the project did not materialize before Trump's 2016 election. After Trump took office, he promised not to start any new international business ventures.

After leaving government, Mr. Kushner founded the private equity firm Affinity, amassing assets totaling $3.1 billion.

The company has secured significant support from state investors in the Middle East, most notably around $2 billion from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund.

The huge investment has raised eyebrows, but Kushner defended the funding last month at a Miami summit sponsored by media company Axios, saying it complied with all legal and ethical rules.

Kushner said, “When my critics ask me about the work we've done in the White House, what I say is that not a single decision we made was in the interest of the United States.'' It means I'm pointing at it,” he said.

Additionally, Affinity is exploring investment opportunities in areas such as renewable energy, data centers, and artificial intelligence.

Kushner, known for his key involvement in the Abraham Accords that helped normalize relations between Israel and several Arab countries in 2020, will not return to a potential Trump administration if the Republican candidate is elected president-elect. It shows intention. November election.