Mohamed Alabbar

The Belgrade Waterfront project, entrusted to Eagle Hills and associated with Alabbar, became a major urban development controversy in Serbia, with criticism of exceptional procedures, the executive's role, opacity surrounding certain decisions and priority given to high-end development.

State of the evidence

Documented

The project to transform Durrës port into a marina and property development, led by Eagle Hills with the Albanian state, prompted continuing debate over public benefits, the partnership structure, beneficial ownership, financing and use of public assets.

State of the evidence

Documented

Alabbar had undertaken a large property project in Minsk, backed by Alexander Lukashenko. In 2024, as Belarus faced Western sanctions over its support for Russia's war in Ukraine, Reuters revealed that he had begun selling his stake.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Reuters reported that Alabbar was advising Jared Kushner on a plan to redevelop the former Yugoslav army headquarters in Belgrade into a luxury complex, a politically controversial project concerning heritage and the conditions for access to the site.

State of the evidence

Documented

Alabbar stepped down as chairman of Emaar's board and became managing director to comply with a listed-company governance rule preventing the combination of chairmanship and an executive role; he continued overseeing daily operations.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

While chairing Emaar, Alabbar simultaneously developed property projects through other entities in Egypt, West Africa and the Balkans. Reuters reported shareholder concerns in 2015, including one investor explicitly citing a conflict of interest.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated