Mohamed Alabbar, owner of Eagle Hills, is expected to return to Ulcinj in early December, Pobjeda has learned. His upcoming visit has generated significant interest among residents, especially landowners in the Velika Plaža area. Many of them hope to meet with him to explore the possibility of investing their land into a joint large-scale project. They believe Alabbar could restore Ulcinj’s long-lost prestige and attract high-spending tourists.
Among those seeking a meeting is the authorised representative of one of the largest privately owned estates in the Zoganj area—an attractive location near Velika Plaža. The property consists of a single parcel of 100,000 square meters. The owner is represented by Dragan Pavličić, a long-time associate of several prominent U.S. companies that have operated in Montenegro.
A location for world-class investment
Pavličić told Pobjeda that the site—just five kilometres from the sea and one kilometre from the former Solana complex—has all the prerequisites for elite tourism development.
“It is a unique piece of land: 100,000 square meters in one block with a single owner. Fresh water is available at a depth of 70 meters, and seawater can also be brought in. In this natural environment, under tree cover, we envision a high-end complex with seawater pools and full accompanying infrastructure,” he said.
Pavličić stressed that Ulcinj has been losing the battle for affluent tourists for years.
“Ulcinj has not yet attracted the clientele that truly matches the beauty, cleanliness, and peace the destination offers. Mass tourism has damaged its image and does not bring real benefits to the local community,” he noted.
Landowners see Alabbar’s visit as a turning point
Landowners around Velika Plaža believe Alabbar’s visit could be a decisive moment. They want to present their properties and convince him that Ulcinj can offer some of Montenegro’s most attractive sites—provided the state acts quickly to urbanize municipalities and halt chaotic construction.
“If this location is developed wisely and sustainably, it could spark a new wave of investments that would stop uncontrolled construction and open the door to strategic development—for the benefit of both citizens and the state,” they said.
According to Pavličić, the land in Zoganj is ideal for a luxury resort, medical clinic, spa and wellness retreat, or even an educational center for sustainable development.
“The site is five kilometres from Velika Plaža and from central Ulcinj, and just one kilometre from Solana. It offers everything needed for a unique tourism complex—peace, accessibility, gentle slopes, and wide flat areas. We have fresh water, and with seawater pipelines the possibilities are endless. Imagine a saltwater pool in natural shade, without noise, pollution, or mosquitoes,” he said.
Pavličić, who has decades of experience working with international investors, believes Ulcinj finally has an opportunity to attract long-term, credible investors like Alabbar.
He also sees Ulcinj as a future gateway linking Montenegro’s south and north.
“We imagine tourists arriving at the sea, then taking organised trips to the mountains, villages, and northern region. This is true sustainable tourism—one that connects, not depletes. For Montenegro to open up to the world and ensure real revenue for local and state budgets, the government must act decisively, shorten permitting procedures, and demonstrate seriousness to a world-class investor like Alabbar. He is a visionary and can turn Ulcinj into a top destination for high-spending tourists,” Pavličić said.
He added that such investments would extend Ulcinj’s tourist season to six or seven months instead of the current two.
“We have land that is a God-given resource. Everything is ready—we just need a serious investor and a vision. Ulcinj can truly become the metropolis of Montenegrin tourism.”
A growing local presence
A shift in atmosphere on the ground is also visible through the work of Ana Martinović, Eagle Hills Montenegro’s marketing director, who has spent considerable time in Ulcinj recently. She has been visiting local institutions and speaking with residents, and confirms that the perception of Alabbar is changing dramatically.
She says there is “a new and unprecedented openness to cooperation,” and that she is now a familiar face in Ulcinj. Residents, she added, “constantly invite me to visit,” showing that Eagle Hills has increasingly positioned itself not merely as a potential investor but as a genuine community partner.
Eagle Hills Montenegro has already carried out several socially responsible initiatives in the municipality, including donations to the “Boško Strugar” primary school; support for the Choir Festival; funding a hippotherapy program for children with developmental challenges; and assistance to the Ulcinj Volleyball Club.
“The donation to the Boško Strugar school is only one of several initiatives demonstrating our commitment to Ulcinj and its people,” Martinović said.
She added that she looks forward to seeing the renovated schoolyard completed by the end of January and that Alabbar—if in Montenegro at the time—would gladly visit the school to see the results.
School director Mladenka Maja Perić called the donation “extremely valuable, not only financially but because of the message it sends—ensuring a safer and more beautiful childhood for our students.” She noted that the school is the recipient of numerous awards, including Oktoih and the “Green Flag,” and that the partnership with Eagle Hills is an example of how business and the community can create lasting value together.
