Published on: June 8, 2026, 10:57 AM.
Updated on: June 8, 2026, 11:25 AM.
- The Trump family is affiliated with a high-end resort initiative in Albania
- Trump has a history of owning and managing casinos in Atlantic City and Indiana
A substantial luxury resort project, valued at billions, is being mapped out in Albania with significant connections to the Trump family. This ambitious plan aims to revitalize Sazan Island, located off Albania’s breathtaking Adriatic coastline, but it is already stirring discontent among the Albanian populace.
Sazan, the largest island in Albania, is positioned in the Adriatic Sea. The Sazan Island Resort represents a proposed $1.6 billion transformation of the 2.2 square mile site, which once served as a military base under Soviet rule.
This premium tourism initiative is being driven by Atlantic Incubation Partners LLC, a firm supported by Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump. In January 2025, Atlantic Incubation Partners acquired the island, shortly after Donald Trump was reelected as the President of the United States.
A segment of the Albanian population expresses concerns regarding the Trump family’s substantial involvement in their country. Some protests have prompted Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama to comment on the matter.
Rama emphasized a vision and strategy: to establish Albania as the premier high-end tourism hub in the region, aiming for a net-positive environmental impact that, per current assessments, would yield approximately 25% more greenery than presently exists, along with significant advancements across multiple biodiversity parameters,” Rama stated on X.
He also noted that the project remains in the preliminary planning phase, with no permits currently issued.
Will the Trump Albania Resort Feature Gaming?
As planning is still underway, it remains unclear if Atlantic Incubation Partners will include a casino at the Sazan Island Resort. Albania, predominantly a Muslim nation, does permit legal casino gambling.
The majority of casinos in Albania are concentrated in Tirana, the capital and largest city, which serves as the central hub for its economy, finance, politics, and trade.
The Grand Casino Tirana is one of the most upscale gaming establishments in Albania, boasting over 300 slot machines and 15 live dealer table games, along with a VIP gaming area.
Tourism is a crucial sector of Albania’s growing economy, with over 12 million visitors recorded last year. Once overlooked, the country has emerged as a significant European destination in the Balkans.
Presently, tourism contributes nearly half of Albania’s GDP.
Trump’s Casino Ventures
The Trump family has not held ownership in a casino operation for decades. The last stake was in February 2016 when billionaire Carl Icahn took over Trump Entertainment Resorts during bankruptcy proceedings.
Nonetheless, Trump continued earning income from Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City through a licensing agreement allowing the use of the Trump brand.
Real Estate Expansion
The Trump Organization is actively broadening its global presence by collaborating with international developers to unveil distinguished luxury residential, commercial, and hotel projects.
A central focus in this expansion is the Middle East, highlighted by a colossal US $1 billion development in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, featuring the 47-story Trump Tower Jeddah and the adjacent Trump Plaza complex.
The brand is also pursuing active development projects across other emerging affluent cities, including luxury hotel and residential towers in Dubai, and numerous commercial and residential builds in major Indian cities such as Gurgaon and Pune.
Looking to the future, similar licensing and development arrangements are poised to extend the Trump brand into additional highly sought-after locations such as Muscat, Oman; Bali, Indonesia; Hung Yen, Vietnam; Doha, Qatar; and Tbilisi, Georgia.