History of the La Bajadilla Port Redevelopment Project (2011–Present)
Published: October 2025. Last updated: November 2025.
The proposed redevelopment of Puerto de La Bajadilla in Marbella represents one of the most ambitious marina-related infrastructure plans announced in the city’s recent history. First presented in 2011 after a competitive public tender, the project involved a proposed €400 million investment aimed at modernising and expanding the port, incorporating new commercial facilities, and establishing Marbella as a potential stop for cruise vessels in the Mediterranean. [1][2]
Background
Located on Marbella’s eastern shoreline, La Bajadilla has traditionally functioned as a modest commercial and fishing port. For decades, the site had been identified as a candidate for expansion in municipal and regional planning studies, but no major proposal progressed beyond planning stages until the early 2010s. [2][7]
In 2010–2011, the Andalusian Port Authority and the Ayuntamiento de Marbella initiated a tender process to select a private developer capable of redesigning, financing, and managing the expanded port through a long-term concession. [7][8]
The 2011 Redevelopment Award
In April 2011, the concession for the redevelopment of Puerto de La Bajadilla was awarded to Nas Marbella, a company owned by Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, then Prime Minister of Qatar. [1][2][3][4] Contemporary media described the winning proposal as the most financially significant and architecturally ambitious of the competing bids.
Key Elements of the Approved 2011 Proposal
According to municipal documentation and contemporary reporting, the 2011 redevelopment project included the following elements:
- Construction of a 200-metre cruise-ship quay, allowing mid-sized cruise vessels to dock directly in Marbella[1][2]
- Expansion of the marina to more than 1,000 berths[2][3]
- Development of a five-star hotel integrated into the port complex[1][4]
- Creation of an enlarged commercial and leisure zone, incorporating retail, restaurant, and hospitality units[1][5][6]
- Reconfiguration of the existing fishing port area to improve professional use while maintaining public access[7][8]
- An indicative construction timeline of approximately four years[1][2]
At the time of approval, the project was widely described as the largest single infrastructural investment ever planned within Marbella’s municipal boundaries. [1][2][4]
Press Coverage and Public Reaction
Major Spanish newspapers including El País, Diario SUR, and La Opinión de Málaga reported extensively on the 2011 concession and the scope of the proposed redevelopment. [1][2][3]
English-language publications, such as Sur in English, Euro Weekly News, and The Olive Press, also covered the announcement in detail, highlighting the involvement of Sheikh Al Thani and the project’s projected economic impact for Marbella and the wider Costa del Sol. [4][5][6]
Initial public reaction emphasised the potential for: