Mohamed Alabbar, the founder of the Emirati development group Eagle Hills, has rekindled discussions regarding a significant tourism project at Velika Plaža, located near Ulcinj, Montenegro. This comes after earlier controversies and regulatory challenges that led to a halt in plans for a long-term lease of the beach. Following public outcry, Alabbar has resumed dialogue with local landowners and stakeholders to explore potential investment opportunities.
In a recent meeting with property owners and community members from the Velika Plaža area, Alabbar expressed his company’s interest in advancing a concept referred to internally as the “Long Beach Project.” However, he clarified that no binding agreements or land purchases have been finalized. Instead, Eagle Hills has proposed non-binding letters of intent to assess interest in various partnership models, emphasizing that these documents do not obligate the company to enter into formal agreements.
The discussions encompass nearly six million square meters of land, which includes approximately four million square meters of state-owned territory and two million square meters of privately owned land. Alabbar assured participants that if the necessary land is made available for the proposed project, contributors would be provided with bank guarantees, with an estimated timeline of nine years for implementation contingent on reaching a formal agreement.
Alabbar first entered the public discourse in Montenegro in March 2025 when plans were announced for a comprehensive development at Velika Plaža. This included a controversial proposal for a 99-year lease of the beach area from Port Milena to the mouth of the Bojana River, which sparked significant public protests and political opposition. The local legislative body in Ulcinj ultimately declined to support this initiative, prompting Eagle Hills to pause its original plans and consider alternatives based on existing spatial planning documents.
During this interim period, Eagle Hills participated in a national tender for beach leases in March 2025, submitting bids for 19 beach locations and ranking first on nine. However, under pressure from previous tenants, the company withdrew from several bids but successfully secured lease rights for two popular Ulcinj beaches: Tropikana and Imperijal, which it is currently managing.
In early October 2025, Eagle Hills further solidified its presence in Montenegro by signing a joint venture agreement with local developer Cungu & Co. This partnership aims to establish Eagle Hills Ecovillage Shas Podgorica, focusing on developing an eco-tourism destination near Šas. The project will emphasize environmentally sensitive accommodation and wellness services while enhancing recreational facilities to provide an authentic Montenegrin tourism experience.
The renewed efforts by Alabbar at Velika Plaža highlight ongoing interest from international developers in Montenegro’s coastal tourism sector while also reflecting the complex community and political dynamics that influence such developments. Although the specifics of future projects remain uncertain, recent engagements indicate a mutual willingness to find common ground that could attract significant investment to one of Montenegro’s most notable landscapes.
