Marbella has taken a decisive step towards welcoming one of the world’s most prestigious hospitality brands. Sierra Blanca Estates and Marriott International have signed the agreement to develop St. Regis Marbella, a hotel and residential complex in the Las Dunas area, scheduled to open in 2031. The project, also promoted by Platinum Estates, involves an investment of more than €500 million and was signed in the presence of the Mayor of Marbella, Ángeles Muñoz.
The resort will feature 169 hotel rooms and 151 luxury residences and is expected to create more than 2,000 direct and 4,500 indirect jobs during construction, plus more than 450 permanent positions once it is operating. “The arrival of a world-leading brand such as St. Regis confirms that our city is ready to host investment of the highest level,” said the mayor.
16 hectares facing the Mediterranean
According to Carlos Rodríguez, representative of Sierra Blanca Estates, the complex will rise on a 16-hectare plot with more than 350 metres of seafront — “a unique opportunity, not only in Marbella but across the entire Mediterranean.” Rooms and suites will open onto terraces with Mediterranean views, complemented by several restaurants, a beach club, wellness facilities and spaces for congresses and celebrations. In total, more than 5,000 m² will be devoted to dining, leisure and wellbeing, and a further 1,100 m² to meetings and events.
The 151 residences, ranging from two to five bedrooms, will have independent access and enjoy the full range of St. Regis hotel services. The architecture will follow the natural slope of the land, giving prominence to gardens and open spaces to ensure seamless integration into the landscape.
A project that gives space back to the city
Around 69% of the land will be for public use. Of the 160,000 m² covered by the sector, some 110,000 m² will become public space. The plan includes the regeneration of 3.2 hectares of dunes within the site and a further 1.6 hectares nearby, the removal of invasive species across some 13,000 m², works on the Real de Zaragoza stream to reduce flood risk, and rainwater harvesting and irrigation with reclaimed water.
The coastal path (Senda Litoral) will be extended by 516 metres, including a 40-metre wooden boardwalk connecting with Golden Beach, and 277 public parking spaces will be created. A new southern service road alongside the A-7 — an investment of more than €15 million with an estimated 18-month build — will improve the El Rosario and Elviria junctions and is expected to divert over 15,000 vehicles a day from the main motorway. Infrastructure works could begin before the end of this year.
Why Marbella
Manuel Climent, Director of Development for Marriott International in Spain and Portugal, compared the Costa del Sol favourably with destinations such as the French Riviera, Costa Smeralda and the Greek islands, particularly “for its ability to sustain tourism activity all year round.” Air connections, golf, gastronomy and cultural heritage, he noted, make Marbella the ideal setting for St. Regis, Marriott’s ultra-luxury brand.
For Roshni Mohinani, President of Platinum Estates, “from the beginning, our vision was to develop a project that respected its surroundings, contributed meaningfully to Marbella and set a new standard of luxury hospitality in the region.”
