Journalist Klodiana Lala's show "Në Shënjestër" has revealed details about the "Durrës Marina" project and the agreement between the Albanian government and Arab businessman Mohamed Alabbar, raising questions about the way the project is being developed and the management of the Port of Durrës.
According to the investigation, the story begins on November 29, 2020, when the tallest building in the world, Burj Khalifa, was lit up in red and black. The video was also shared by Prime Minister Edi Rama, who thanked the company Emaar Properties and Mohamed Alabbar for the gesture towards Albania.
The investigation points out that, shortly after, Alabbar was involved in the project to build housing for those affected by the earthquake in the Spitalla area, while the “Durrës Marina” project was then presented, which envisages the transformation of the Port of Durrës into a tourist and residential marina.
On August 10, 2022, the Albanian government signed the cooperation agreement with the Eagle Hills company for the “Durrës Marina” project. According to the show, negotiations for the project had begun earlier and included high-level meetings between government representatives and Arab investors.
In January 2023, the company "Durrës Marina" was created, where 67% of the shares are owned by the Alabbar company and 33% by the state-owned company "Albanian Seaports Development Company", owned by the Durrës Port Authority.
According to data published in the investigation, the company's initial capital was around 35 thousand euros, while the capital was later increased in several stages to around 13 million euros. The show claims that the funds injected into the project came mainly from citizens' prepayments for apartments sold in the "Durrës Marina" project. Referring to the balance sheets submitted to the Central Bank for the years 2023 and 2024, the company turns out to have collected around 66 million euros from the sale of apartments, while none of them have yet been delivered to customers.
The investigation also states that the real investment made by the end of 2024 is estimated at around 35-43 million euros, while the rest of the funds remain tied to customer prepayments and the project's operating costs.
The show “Në Shënjestër” also brings the legal debates that have accompanied the agreement, including the review in the Constitutional Court of Albania. Two members of the court, according to the investigation, have expressed opinions partially against it, arguing that some elements of the agreement conflict with the Constitution and parliamentary procedures. The investigation also raises questions about the exemption from certain taxes and public contributions, as well as the value of state property made available to the project.
According to the show, so far the main beneficiary of the project turns out to be businessman Mohamed Alabbar, while the real deadline for the full completion of the investment and the delivery of apartments to citizens who have invested in the "Durrës Marina" project remains unclear.
