From the newly renovated Kimpton Los Monteros and Don Carlos to the incoming Four Seasons, Waldorf Astoria and Las Dunas branded resorts, this article examines how established and emerging hospitality investments are reshaping property values across Río Real, Los Monteros and Elviria. Includes January 2026 price data, branded residence insights, neighbourhood analysis and strategic timing considerations for buyers and investors.
East Marbella is undergoing a landmark transformation. Three globally recognised luxury hotel brands are converging on this stretch of coastline, already adding to the area’s high-end hospitality options and reshaping how the world perceives one of the Mediterranean’s most naturally beautiful residential areas.
For those who know Marbella’s eastern coast, this moment has been a long time coming. Areas like Río Real, Los Monteros, El Rosario, and Elviria have always offered something distinctive: pine forests meeting golden beaches, uncrowded shores, relaxed dining scenes, and a pace of life that the western side of town simply cannot replicate.
What these neighbourhoods have sometimes lacked is the kind of global recognition that draws international attention. That is changing. Three major luxury hotel projects are now advancing through planning and into construction in the next few years, each bringing a world-renowned hospitality brand to East Marbella for the first time and promising to enhance the long term value of the area.
The new wave of branded developments is building upon a foundation of established luxury hospitality that has defined the value of properties in East Marbella for decades. Several luxury hotels have long served discerning guests and continue to anchor the area’s reputation for quality.
But its the scale of what is emerging along the East Marbella coast is genuinely significant. These are not isolated developments but a coordinated elevation of the entire area’s hospitality and residential offering, building upon the established luxury infrastructure already in place.
The €650–740 million Four Seasons Marbella development represents the largest single investment. Planned for the El Pinar area between Torre Real and Los Monteros, the project includes a 120-key Grand Luxury hotel designed by Richard Meier, 136 private residences and 30 hotel residences, six to seven restaurants, a world-class spa, and 720 metres of direct beachfront. The partial plan is approved, environmental authorisation has been granted, and the urbanisation project is in active sectoral review. First building licences are expected in 2027, with residence pre-sales launching that same year and an estimated final completion of 2031/2032.
Hilton’s flagship luxury brand arrives through the Waldorf Astoria Higuerón Marbella Golf Resort, following Higuerón Developments’ acquisition of the historic Marbella Golf Country Club. The project includes a complete resort transformation with Robert Trent Jones Jr redesigning the golf course his father originally created, alongside world-class hospitality and wellness facilities. Positioned in the hills above Los Monteros, this development brings the Waldorf Astoria brand to Spain for the first time with an expected completion in 2029.
Sierra Blanca Estates and Platinum Estates have announced a €500 million beachfront macro-resort in Las Dunas, Elviria. The development includes 150 hotel rooms and 180 branded residences across 160,000 m² of beachside land, with 200 metres of prime beach access adjacent to La Plage Casanis. Construction is expected to begin in 2026, with projected opening in 2027.
The concentration of luxury hospitality investment in East Marbella is already influencing property values, and the promise of these world-class projects and amenities will continue to enhance this trend. According to Idealista, average asking prices per square metre across East Marbella continue to show strong double-digit annual growth. Figures to January 2026 show annual increases in average asking prices in Reserva de Marbella up 22.5%, Cabopino-Artola up 16.6%, Elviria up 14.9%, and Romana Playa up 10.7%. While moderated from the peaks of 2024, these figures remain well above the broader Costa del Sol average.
This growth reflects several converging factors. The natural appeal of East Marbella , long appreciated by residents and repeat visitors, is now being validated by institutional investment at scale. The presence of three globally recognised hotel brands creates a quality signal that resonates with international buyers who may have previously focused exclusively on the Golden Mile or Nueva Andalucía.
The recent renovation investments at Kimpton Los Monteros and Don Carlos, totalling well over €50 million combined, demonstrate confidence in the area’s trajectory from established operators who understand the market intimately.
Globally, in 2025 it was estimated that luxury branded residences command premiums of 20–40% over non-branded counterparts. This premium reflects several tangible benefits: access to hotel-level services, professional property management, higher build quality standards, and the reassurance of an established luxury brand overseeing the development.
For buyers considering East Marbella, the emergence of branded residence options at Four Seasons and Las Dunas introduces a category of property that previously did not exist in this part of the coast. These residences offer:
By adding to the depth and range of branded residences for sale in Marbella area, these investments are promise to continue enhancing the world-class lifestyle value and pull that attracts more and more of the worlds HNWI to this beautiful part of Spain.
The arrival of multiple luxury hotel brands is expected to create a more stable year-round market in East Marbella. Properties within established resort ecosystems typically attract full-time residents and international investors rather than purely seasonal buyers, reducing the volatility that can affect holiday-focused markets.
Higher absorption rates for new developments with lifestyle integration are already evident in comparable global markets. Properties within or adjacent to Four Seasons, Waldorf Astoria, and similar branded developments should consistently experience stronger price growth and sales velocity.
For buyers and investors considering East Marbella properties, the current moment presents a distinctive opportunity. The direction of travel is clear: major capital is flowing into this stretch of coastline, infrastructure improvements are committed, and global brands are staking long-term positions.
However, the full impact of these developments is not yet reflected in pricing. Properties purchased today, before construction milestones generate additional media attention and before the hotels themselves open, may benefit from incremental price adjustments as each project advances.
One structural factor underpinning East Marbella’s investment case is the scarcity of developable beachfront land. The projects now advancing have secured the last significant plots with direct beach access. Future luxury developments in this area will, by necessity, be smaller in scale or located further from the coastline.
This supply constraint, combined with rising global demand for Mediterranean lifestyle properties, suggests sustained upward pressure on values in established East Marbella neighbourhoods.
The Four Seasons development alone includes more than €9 million in infrastructure works: acoustic screens, pedestrian bridges, service road extensions, underpasses, and new roundabouts. These improvements benefit the entire urban environment, not just hotel guests, creating positive externalities for existing property owners throughout the area.
The ripple effects of these hotel developments extend beyond their immediate boundaries. Several East Marbella neighbourhoods are positioned to benefit from improved amenities, increased international recognition, and enhanced infrastructure.
The concentration of luxury hotel investment in East Marbella represents more than an expansion of hospitality options. It marks a structural shift in how the broader Marbella property market is organised.
The Golden Mile and Puerto Banús have long served as Marbella’s primary luxury destinations. What is emerging in the east is not a competitor but a complement: a different expression of Mediterranean luxury that appeals to buyers seeking natural beauty, space, and a more relaxed pace without sacrificing access to world-class amenities.
Together with branded residential projects throughout Marbella the Golden Mile, including Design Hills Marbella by Dolce & Gabbana and many others, Marbella as a whole is consolidating its position among Europe’s most desirable luxury destinations.
The next several years will see these projects progress from planning stages to physical reality. Each construction milestone, each pre-sales launch, and each hotel opening will generate attention and attract new buyers to East Marbella.
For those already familiar with this stretch of coastline, the developments represent a welcome confirmation of what has always made it special. For those still discovering it, the arrival of Four Seasons, Waldorf Astoria, and a major branded beach resort provides a compelling introduction to one of the Mediterranean’s most promising luxury markets.
MPDunne – 20 February 2026.
East Marbella’s established luxury hotels include the Kimpton Los Monteros Marbella (5-star GL, reopened February 2025), Don Carlos Marbella (5-star, reopened June 2025 after a €43 million renovation), and Marriott’s Marbella Beach Resort (vacation ownership resort on Elviria Beach). The 4-star Ona Alanda Club Marbella offers quality aparthotel accommodation nearby.
Three major luxury hotel projects are advancing in East Marbella: the Four Seasons Río Real (€650–740 million, 120 keys), the Waldorf Astoria Higuerón Marbella Golf Resort at the former Marbella Golf Country Club, and a €500 million beachfront resort in Las Dunas, Elviria, developed by Sierra Blanca Estates and Platinum Estates.
The Las Dunas resort is projected to open in 2027. The Four Seasons Río Real expects first residence deliveries by end of 2029, with full completion by 2031–2032. The Waldorf Astoria timeline will follow the golf course redesign and resort transformation, which is expected to open in 2029.
Average asking prices per square metre across East Marbella continue to show strong double-digit annual growth. Figures to January 2026 range from 10.7% in Romana Playa to 22.5% in Reserva de Marbella, with Elviria at 14.9% and Cabopino-Artola at 16.6%.
Branded residences are private homes within hotel or resort developments, offering owners access to hotel-level services, amenities, and property management. The premium reflects build quality, service standards, rental income potential, and enhanced resale values within established luxury ecosystems.
Los Monteros, positioned between the Four Seasons and Waldorf Astoria sites and home to the renovated Kimpton, offers direct exposure to multiple developments. Elviria benefits from the Las Dunas resort, Don Carlos, and Nikki Beach while recording strong price growth. Río Real, Costabella, and Hacienda Las Chapas will benefit from improved infrastructure and increased international recognition.
If you would like to understand the current property market in East Marbella or how these developments fit into a buying or investment decision, contact MPDunne for a confidential consultation.
Melinda Rendina Content Writer & Marketing Creator
Melinda is an experienced writer specialising in real estate, urban planning, lifestyle, architecture and design. A seasoned Marbella resident, she holds an Undergraduate Degree in Social Science with Honours in Politics, and a Masters degree in Urban Planning.
The Four Seasons Río Real development took a significant step forward in February 2026, with environmental approvals confirmed and the urbanisation project now under formal review by Marbella’s town hall. For anyone already invested in East Marbella, watching the hotel industry or this part of the coast with interest: here is what has been approved, what comes next, and why it matters.
A new chapter is unfolding on Marbella’s eastern coastline with the announcement of Higueron’s agreement for a Waldorf Astoria Hilton in the hills of east Marbella. Set to redefine hospitality and lifestyle in the region, the Higuerón Marbella Golf Resort will anchor a wave of high-end branded hotels planned in the area, raising East Marbella’s property profile, increasing residential appeal, and strengthening long-term investment value.
A macro-resort project of branded residences & luxury beachfront hotel is being planned in Las Dunas Club area of Marbella East. Replacing the previously planned W Hotel, the current project is hoping to be completed in 2027, raising the standard of luxury in Marbella´s beachfront and solidifying it as a destination of international luxury.
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