Marbella East is experiencing a wave of luxury investment as major resort and hospitality projects point to a new phase for this established coastal area.
· 6 min. read
Marbella East is experiencing a wave of luxury investment as major resort and hospitality projects point to a new phase for this established coastal area.
Marbella East has always had its own distinctive appeal, with long sandy beaches, established villa communities, golf courses, renowned beach clubs and family neighbourhoods set within a spacious environment.
Now, a series of major hospitality and resort projects is bringing fresh focus to this part of the coastline, reinforcing Marbella East’s position within the city’s next phase of luxury investment.
The renewed interest in Marbella East is being shaped by several types of investment: new luxury resort projects, the renewal of existing sites and the upgrading of established hospitality landmarks.
In Las Chapas, the Las Dunas area is planned as a major residential-hotel resort on one of the area’s most significant remaining coastal plots. Close by, the former Residencia de Tiempo Libre de Marbella, a large public holiday complex that has been unused for many years, has been provisionally awarded to Ritusa S.A., a company linked to Fuerte Group, as part of a long-term agreement to bring the site back into operation.
Also in Marbella East, the planned Four Seasons Marbella resort in Río Real and the recently announced Waldorf Astoria Marbella at Marbella Golf Country Club add two major international hospitality brands to the picture.
Discover other branded residences being built in Marbella.
The planned Las Dunas resort is one of the most significant projects currently associated with Marbella East.
In May 2026, Marbella Town Hall approved the urbanisation licence for the Las Dunas area in Las Chapas, covering a beachfront plot of more than 160,000 square metres next to the former Residencia de Tiempo Libre de Marbella. The approval marks an important step forward for a project that has been in development for around a decade.
Las Dunas is not only a hotel and residential project. The approved urbanisation works also include the regeneration of the dunes at Real de Zaragoza, part of the Dunas de Marbella ecological reserve, together with measures to protect biodiversity, conserve existing trees and improve the area’s connection with the coastal promenade.
The approved works, valued at around €23.5 million, also include new public spaces, pedestrian areas, bicycle lanes, drainage and rainwater systems, road improvements, public services and utility networks. A bridge is also planned to improve the connection with the nearby Golden Beach urbanisation.
The wider resort project represents an investment of more than €350 million and is promoted by Platinum Estates, with Sierra Blanca Estates involved in the branded residences. Plans include a five-star hotel with 150 rooms, around 170 branded residences, a beach club, three restaurants and hotel-style services for private residence owners.
For several years, the project was associated with W Marbella, a proposed luxury lifestyle hotel under Marriott’s W Hotels brand. Today, the clearest description is a major luxury residential-hotel resort planned for Marbella East, with a higher-end hotel brand still to be publicly announced.
If delivered as planned, Las Dunas would add a new level of resort infrastructure to Marbella East, while also bringing improvements to a sensitive coastal setting. Its combination of beachfront location, dune regeneration, branded residences and resort services makes it one of the most closely watched projects in this part of Marbella.
Another important development is the future of the former Residencia de Tiempo Libre de Marbella, located in Las Chapas, which neighbours the Las Dunas resort project.
In January 2026, Ritusa S.A., a company linked to Fuerte Group, was provisionally awarded the right to bring the former public holiday residence back into use and operate it for 75 years. This is not a conventional land sale: the site remains publicly owned by the Junta de Andalucía, while Ritusa S.A. would be able to manage and invest in it during that period.
The connection with Fuerte Group gives the project particular local relevance. The Andalusian hotel group has a long-standing presence in Marbella through hotels, including El Fuerte Marbella, making this more than a purely external investment story.
The terms include an annual payment to the Junta de Andalucía of €5.025 million, above the initial estimate of €4 million. They also require the complex to reopen within a maximum of three years, with at least €50 million to be invested during the first 15 years.
The site itself is substantial, occupying almost 197,500 square metres, with more than 23,000 square metres of existing built area. It is also listed in the General Catalogue of Andalusian Historical Heritage, so future works will need to respect its protected status.
The planned Four Seasons Marbella resort in Río Real is another major luxury hospitality and branded-residential project for Marbella East. With an investment of around €700 million, the project is expected to bring a five-star resort, private residences and high-end amenities close to Río Real Golf and the beach, alongside significant infrastructure improvements.
We have covered the project in more detail in our Four Seasons Marbella article.
The investment story also extends inland, near Las Chapas. The historic Marbella Golf Country Club was acquired by Higuerón Developments in 2025 and announced in November as Higuerón Marbella Golf Resort.
The wider €220 million resort project will include Waldorf Astoria Marbella, Hilton’s first Waldorf Astoria hotel in Spain.
Beyond new resort projects, Marbella East’s existing hospitality landmarks are also being renewed. In Elviria, Don Carlos Marbella reopened for the 2025 season after a major renovation of around €45 million, with an official reopening event held in May 2026. The update brought new interiors, dining, wellness facilities and the Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre to one of Marbella East’s best-known hotels.
The significance of these projects is not that Marbella East is suddenly becoming important. It already is.
This part of Marbella has long had the foundations of lasting appeal: beaches, golf, established residential areas, spacious plots and discreet ultra-prime homes. In the right locations, from Los Monteros and Río Real to El Rosario, Las Chapas, Elviria, Marbesa and Cabopino, Marbella East already competes at the very top of the market.
What this renewed wave of investment does is add another layer to that existing strength. It reinforces Marbella East’s appeal as a place to live and invest, while also strengthening its position within Marbella’s luxury hospitality landscape.
These projects will take time, but the trajectory is clear. Marbella East is an established residential coastline now playing an increasingly important role in Marbella’s next phase of resort, residential and hospitality development.
For those considering investing in the area, Panorama’s current selection of prime properties in Marbella East reflects the range of homes available across its coastal and residential communities. For clients looking at longer-term opportunities, Panorama also advises on plots and land available for sale in Marbella.
Yes. Marbella East is not only a summer or holiday destination; it is also well suited to year-round living. The area offers established residential communities, international schools nearby, golf courses, beachside amenities, restaurants and good connections to Marbella town centre and Málaga Airport. Its spacious layout and quieter atmosphere make it especially attractive for families and buyers seeking more privacy than in central Marbella.
Major resort investment can strengthen long-term confidence in an area by improving infrastructure, hospitality services, public spaces and international visibility. While property values depend on many factors, new luxury hotels, branded residences and upgraded leisure facilities can increase demand for nearby homes, particularly in prime beachside and golf locations.
Marbella East attracts a broad mix of buyers, including families, second-home owners, international investors and clients looking for larger plots or more space close to the beach. The area is especially appealing to those who want a quieter residential setting while still being within easy reach of Marbella’s restaurants, schools, golf courses and luxury services.
Marbella East offers both, but the best choice depends on the buyer’s lifestyle. Villas are popular among those seeking privacy, gardens and larger living spaces, especially in areas such as Los Monteros, El Rosario, Las Chapas and Marbesa. Apartments and townhouses are often preferred by buyers looking for lower maintenance, community facilities and easier lock-up-and-leave ownership.
Buyers should consider location, beach access, build quality, community fees, rental potential, planning status and future infrastructure improvements. It is also important to understand the difference between established residential areas and zones undergoing major development, as each may offer different advantages depending on whether the goal is lifestyle, long-term investment or rental income.
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Elviria, Marbella East
An exclusive residential enclave set within one of the most desirable areas of Elviria, Marbella, this development has been carefully designed for those who value brightness, privacy, well-being, and a refined Mediterranean way of life....
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Los Altos de los Monteros, Marbella East
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