Four Seasons Marbella: Who Now Owns the Beachfront Resort, and What Happens Next

The Four Seasons resort planned for Marbella has entered its next phase. In spring 2026 the Belgian developer Immobel and the American firm Fort Partners bought 90% of the land from Ricardo Arranz, the developer who created the project and laid its first stone in 2018. The plan stays the same: a 105-room Four Seasons hotel with around 127 branded homes on a 32-hectare beachfront plot at the eastern entrance to Marbella. Sales of the residences are expected to start in 2027.

I have seen a lot of big projects announced on this coast in the last 25 years. The ones that get built are the ones where someone does the slow work first: the land, the planning, the permits. That work has been done here, and it is Ricardo Arranz who did it.

The man behind the project

Ricardo Arranz is one of the best known developers on the Costa del Sol. He built the Villa Padierna hotel in Benahavís, where Michelle Obama stayed during her visit to Spain in 2010, and he is the person who coined the name “Golden Triangle” for the stretch between Marbella, Benahavís and Estepona, with its concentration of five-star hotels, golf courses and high-end residential areas. He has also presided over the association of developers, the Urbanizadores.

The Four Seasons idea started after Villa Padierna. ABC describes it as a project that was “almost more romantic than economic”: Arranz and his late wife wanted to create a second luxury resort, and they searched for the right site until they found this one.

Over eight years he took it through a change of regional government, a pandemic and a long planning process, and brought it to the point where the planning is approved and the remaining steps are building licences and construction. That is the moment he chose to hand over. He keeps a stake and stays involved, and he told Diario Sur he now wants to focus on Villa Padierna and on a new development of three million square metres to the north of the hotel.

Who bought in

Immobel is a listed Belgian property developer. Fort Partners is a US group led by Nadim Ashi, which has worked with Four Seasons on more than ten projects, including the Surf Club in Miami.

According to Hosteltur, the buyers also hold the 20,000 square metres that belonged to the businessman Tomás Olivo, acquired for 53 million euros. That plot sat inside the site, so bringing it under the same ownership simplifies everything that comes next.

“Opportunities of this scale, quality and location are exceptionally rare in Europe,” said Marnix Galle, executive chairman of Immobel. Alejandro Reynal, CEO of Four Seasons, called Marbella “one of the most sought-after Mediterranean destinations in Europe.”

What is planned

According to Immobel’s announcement, reported by Hosteltur:

Diario Sur values the whole project at 650 million euros and estimates that construction could create between 3,500 and 4,000 jobs.

One number needs a note. The urbanisation plan approved by Marbella town hall allows up to 486 homes across the whole sector. The developers’ own programme is much smaller, about 127 homes. If you see different figures in different articles, that is why.

Where it is

The site is the hill facing the sea at the eastern entrance to Marbella, just past the Río Real riverbed on the A-7, about three kilometres from the old town. The beach side sits across the road, and the plan includes an underpass to connect the two. The approved works also put acoustic screens on both sides of the A-7 along this stretch, which we cover in what is changing on the A-7 through Marbella and Estepona.

That puts it next to established areas like Río Real, Los Monteros and the wider Marbella East, not on the Golden Mile west of town, which is where many people assume it is. If you are not sure which part of Marbella suits you, our area guide to Marbella and the Find My Area tool are a good place to start.

Where the project stands

• The Plan Parcial, the planning instrument for the site, is in force.
• In February 2026 Marbella’s council approved the urbanisation project for the sector, more than nine million euros of roads and infrastructure.
• Next come land subdivision, building licences, detailed design and phased construction.
• Sales of the residences are planned from 2027.

No opening date has been published yet, and I would not guess one. But in Spain the planning stage is where most projects stall, and this one is through it.

What changes for the neighbourhood

The approved works go well beyond the hotel. Marbella’s mayor, Ángeles Muñoz, listed them at the February council meeting:

• Acoustic screens on both sides of the A-7, good news for anyone living next to the motorway here.
• A new pedestrian bridge near Calle Teniente Riera.
• An extended service road that reorganises access on that side of the motorway.
• A new underpass connecting north and south, plus a roundabout.

It is not the only big project at this end of town. Close by, the old Incosol hotel is being rebuilt as Oakmond, a €260 million longevity resort with a 140-room hotel, 28 residences and a medical clinic.

The sector plan also sets aside more than 65,000 square metres of parks and gardens.

New homes near the Four Seasons site

If you want to be close to the future resort, these are new developments we currently have in the area, with prices from our listings:

Prices as listed on santinahomes.com in September 2026. Contact us for availability and a visit.

What it means for buyers

A Four Seasons on the beach does two things to an area. It brings infrastructure the town would otherwise take years to build, and it lifts what buyers are willing to pay nearby. The Golden Mile went through a version of this decades ago, which Diego covered in the history of the Golden Mile, and we are seeing it again with Armani Residences.

My advice is the same as always: buy on facts, not on renders. The branded residences will be priced for international second-home buyers, which is who the developers say they are targeting. If you are looking at the areas around the site, the useful question is what you pay today for a home that will sit next to a finished resort in a few years. For the wider market, see our Marbella property market 2026 analysis, and for what is already available, our new developments and properties in Marbella.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who owns the Four Seasons Marbella project now?

The Belgian developer Immobel and the US firm Fort Partners bought 90% of the land from Ricardo Arranz in spring 2026. Arranz, who created the project, keeps a stake. Four Seasons is the hotel brand and operator.

Where will the Four Seasons Marbella be built?

At the eastern entrance to Marbella, on the hill just past Río Real on the A-7, about three kilometres from the old town. The 32-hectare site has around 750 metres of beach frontage.

When will the Four Seasons Marbella open?

No opening date has been announced. The developers plan to start selling the residences in 2027. Building licences, detailed design and construction come next.

How many homes will the Four Seasons Marbella have?

The developers’ plan includes about 40 apartments, 54 townhouses and 33 villas, around 127 homes, plus a 105-room hotel. The approved urbanisation plan allows up to 486 homes across the wider sector.

How much is the Four Seasons Marbella project worth?

Diario Sur values the full project at 650 million euros. Construction is expected to create between 3,500 and 4,000 jobs.

Who is Ricardo Arranz?

A leading Costa del Sol developer, creator of the Villa Padierna hotel in Benahavís and of the Four Seasons Marbella project, and the person who coined the term “Golden Triangle” for Marbella, Benahavís and Estepona.

Is the Four Seasons Marbella on the Golden Mile?

No. It is east of Marbella town, near Río Real and Los Monteros. The Golden Mile runs west of town towards Puerto Banús.

Sources: Hosteltur, “Se vende el Four Seasons de Marbella: Immobel y Fort Partners toman el control” (April 30, 2026); Diario Sur, “Ricardo Arranz vende su participación en los terrenos del complejo Four Seasons en Marbella”; ABC Sevilla, “Un grupo extranjero compra a Ricardo Arranz el 90% del suelo del Four Seasons de Marbella” (May 7, 2026); La Tribuna Hoy.