The government has adopted a framework agreement between Montenegro and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which should be the basis for investments by UAE investors in projects to be built on the Montenegrin coast and in the north of the country.
This was officially confirmed by the Prime Minister yesterday. Milojko Spajic at a press conference, who emphasized that the UAE is interested in investing in a megaproject in Ulcinj or in the north of the country.
Spajić said that the idea is only in the initial phase, and that the UAE as a state is willing to, through the company "Emmar", Mohamed Alabara invest a total of up to 30 billion in the construction of a tourist complex in Ulcinj, which would be intended for tourists from Western Europe.
Spajić pointed out that the agreement expanded cooperation between the countries, so that economic cooperation will also be in infrastructure, agriculture, innovations and finance. This document, he said, must also be ratified by the Parliament.
"A huge project that is only at the idea level and would bring benefits to Montenegro. We would have annual investments of two or three billion euros, while the state would have half a billion in revenue upon completion of the project, and the Municipality of Ulcinj 50 to 60 million in revenue. From today, the state will never sell strategic pieces of land again, but will always co-invest with the largest investors," said Spajić, adding that the entire process would be transparent because it would be done through intergovernmental agreements.
The Prime Minister announced that from now on, Montenegro will enter into partnership relations exclusively with investors and that there will be no sales of state-owned land, or strategic locations.
Alabar's company "Eagle Hills Montenegro" participated in a tender for the lease of beaches in the southernmost Montenegrin municipality and was awarded nine beaches, which caused outrage in the Municipality of Ulcinj and the former tenants there. "Eagle Hills" officially announced that it is willing to sublease them to the old tenants or to give up the lease.
Spajić was in Ulcinj the day before yesterday, where he presented Alabar's interest in investing to the leaders of the local government and local parties there.
Member of Parliament and President of the Democratic Union of Albanians (DUA) Mehmed Zenka yesterday officially confirmed to "Vijesti" that Prime Minister Milojko Spajić, at a meeting with the leaders of the Municipality and Assembly of Ulcinj, MPs from that city and heads of parties and councilor clubs, explained the intention of Arab investors to lease the entire Velika Plaža for 99 years - from Port Milena to the mouth of the Bojana.
"That is absolutely unacceptable for us. We are not against investments, on the contrary, but Ulcinj is not for sale. Look, that is a whole century, how many generations is that, Ulcinj will not ask anything, some other people will ask. We explained to the Prime Minister that in the city's strategic plans there are other locations for investments, but not 20 million square meters of beaches and hinterland of Velika Plaza," said Zenka.
He stated that Spajić showed them a picture and explained that the contract with the Arabs for Velika Plaža would be very extensive and would have several hundred pages.
"We couldn't conclude anything based on one picture, which is the investor's conceptual plan. We know it's a big story, but that doesn't mean anything will come of it," said Zenka.
Spajić, however, did not want to confirm yesterday the information presented by Zenka, that Arab investors are seeking a 99-year lease of the entire Velika Plaza - from Port Milena to the mouth of the Bojana River. He did not deny it either.
When asked whether he convinced the authorities in Ulcinj of this project and why Alabar was at a meeting with the president of the Ulcinj Municipality, Genci NimanbeguSpajić stated that "Alabar was passing through and was going to Hvar, where he owns 80 percent of the hotels."
Spajić paid an official visit to the UAE in mid-February. The Prime Minister's Office officially announced on February 13 that the Government of Montenegro and the UAE signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Dubai, which envisages the exchange of experiences on the development and modernization of public administration, and the strengthening of economic cooperation. The Memorandum was signed on behalf of the UAE Government by the Minister of Cabinet Affairs Muhammad bin Abdullah al-Karkavi.
"This document marks a new, more dynamic and comprehensive cooperation between our two countries and is a confirmation of the strengthening of our partnership. The exchange of knowledge and experience will be particularly important for us in modernizing the work of the Government and public administration as a whole, said Prime Minister Spajić, who is participating in the World Government Summit 2025," the Prime Minister's Office announced.
The Public Company for Marine Management announced a tender for the lease of Ulcinj beaches on February 19th, the deadline for submitting bids was March 4th, but it was extended for another seven days. After the extension, Alabar registered his company in Montenegro and applied for the tender for the lease of the beaches.
Investments to be transparent with local community participation
The local Ulcinj parliament unanimously adopted conclusions regarding the operations of the Public Company for Coastal Zone Management (PK) and the principles that should guide future investment projects at an extraordinary session yesterday. The assembly, among other things, agreed that the Law on PK should be amended and stated that future investments must not lead to undesirable demographic changes.
The councilors also gave clear support to investments that contribute to economic development and improving the quality of life of the municipality's residents.
The Assembly voted that all investment projects must be in accordance with the principles of sustainable development, respecting the planning and strategic documents of the Municipality of Ulcinj and Montenegro, taking into account economic, environmental and social sustainability.
"Projects must be aligned with the principles of ecological responsibility, preservation of natural resources and environmental protection. The process of approving and implementing investments must be transparent, with the active involvement of the local community and the professional public. Bearing in mind that Ulcinj is a specific environment in which an ethnic minority makes up the majority of the population, in accordance with international standards and applicable legal regulations, investments must not lead to undesirable demographic changes that would threaten the cultural, ethnic or social identity of the municipality," the local parliament said, noting that the Municipal Assembly calls on all interested investors to align their projects with these principles and thereby contribute to the sustainable development of the municipality of Ulcinj.
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