Port Al Thani will undoubtedly change the face of Marbella

Marbella remains one of the most luxurious cities in Spain, a place where every year millionaires from around the world meet to spend their holidays and enjoy all the delights offered by this beautiful city. Well-known is Puerto Banus, situated a few kilometres from Marbella and the nerve centre of all this luxury where you can find spectacular yachts and mansions. But soon there will be another port that will compete: Port Al Thani in Marbella.

The contract to enlarge Marbella’s La Bajadilla marina has been awarded to Nasir Bin Abdullah & Sons. This temporary consortium (UTE) is headed by Sheikh Abdullah Al-Thani, a member of the Qatari royal family and owner of Malaga FC. With a cost of €84 million this will be the first harbour development in Andalucía that is funded with both public and private money. 

The company, specifically formed to bid for the tender, includes Marbella Council as well as Puerto Deportivo Marbella S.A. As well as enlarging the marina over the next four years, the UTE will run the installation for 40 years. Not only will the revamped marina provide more berths for private boats and yachts, but it makes possible Marbella’s long-cherished ambitions of providing anchorage for cruise ships.

A 200-metre pier in the outer part of the marina, connecting directly with the inner harbour, will allow liners to dock and put passengers ashore to spend time – and money – in Marbella.

The luxury trade has not been overlooked and an exclusive pier inside the marina is to be set aside for 26 boats. With a further 541 berths for private craft, La Bajadilla’s capacity will increase from the present 262 to 803. The marina will also provide more moorings for pleasure and excursion craft, with room available for fishing boats and nautical industries. The project includes underground parking for 450 vehicles in addition to 683 parking spaces above ground. 

His ability to finance the project worked in Abdullah Al-Thani’s favour from the outset, and the sheikh entered the race for the La Bajadilla contract backed by capital – more than €25 million – from his parent company. Al-Thani also provided bank certificates confirming that he had immediate call on a further €20 million in cash. The investor from Qatar, Sheik Abdulla Bin Nasser Al-Thani, has planned to invest a total of 400 million Euros in the project.

With the Marbella Town Hall holding a 3% stake in the project, the marina is obliged to be ‘emblematic’ in order to attract elite clientele and is being billed as the most important urban development in Marbella’s history.  This new marina is a great initiative and it’s a correct decision to create a fresh new landmark for Marbella rather than to simply remodel near-neighbour Puerto Banús.  With the old industrial estate set to be demolished and the AVE high speed rail link destined to stretch to Marbella in the not too distant future – Port Al Thani will undoubtedly change the face of Marbella.”

The second phase for the new Marbella Marina include a large commercial zone, luxury apartment towers, a five-star hotel on the marina, new bars, restaurants, shops and supermarkets.