The Saudi royal family’s sprawling Marbella estate is set for a major expansion after plans were submitted to increase the number of homes that can be built within the prestigious Al Riyadh complex on the Golden Mile.
Marbella Town Hall is currently processing a reparcelling project for the vast Al Riyadh estate, which is owned by members of the Saudi royal family and already contains palaces, luxury residences and a mosque.
According to Marbella mayor Angeles Muñoz, the project is designed to accommodate younger generations of Saudi royals who want to maintain a presence in Marbella.
‘The third generation of the Saudi royal family continues to want to be in Marbella,’ Muñoz said this week.
‘This will allow the grandchildren of the King to have their own homes here.’
The proposal follows a planning modification approved by the Junta de Andalucia in 2024, allowing greater building density and a larger number of residential units within parts of the estate that are currently undeveloped.
Up to 80 homes on the estate
The Al Riyadh estate covers almost 190,000 square metres and is currently home to a collection of villas, palaces, staff residences, a cultural centre and a mosque.
Planning documents indicate the site could eventually accommodate up to 80 homes, while preserving the private road network and extensive security arrangements already in place.
The project documentation states that the ‘natural growth’ of the Saudi royal family has created demand for additional residences while maintaining the privacy and security requirements associated with the existing palaces.
€30 million windfall for Marbella
The development could also provide a significant financial boost for Marbella Town Hall.
Under the proposal, the estate’s owners would pay €30.7 million to the municipality through a combination of planning compensation payments and monetisation agreements.
The funds include:
- €12.2 million in municipal planning compensation
- A further €12.2 million linked to affordable housing obligations
- €6.26 million relating to public open spaces
Part of the amount will be offset against land expropriation costs linked to a planned roadway, with the final figure to be determined once the public consultation process concludes.
Muñoz said the remaining funds would be used for investments related to Marbella’s municipal land assets.
A long-standing Saudi connection
The Al Riyadh estate has long been one of Marbella’s most famous private compounds and serves as the principal summer residence of members of the Saudi royal family when visiting Spain.
Planning documents describe the various palaces and residences as a single integrated complex that has hosted generations of Saudi royals over several decades.
The reparcelling project has now entered a 20-day public consultation period following its publication in Málaga’s provincial gazette.
If approved, it will pave the way for the next phase of development within one of the most exclusive and heavily guarded estates on the Costa del Sol.
The plans also underline Marbella’s enduring appeal among ultra-high-net-worth international buyers, with the Saudi royal family signalling that it intends to maintain and expand its presence in the resort for decades to come.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
