Four Seasons Marbella East: What’s Been Approved and What Comes Next
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.
One of East Marbella’s most anticipated luxury developments has cleared a major planning milestone. Located in El Pinar area near Torre Real, discover the Four Seasons Marbella hotel project and what it means for real estate on the Costa del Sol.
Marbella is no stranger to ambitious projects, but not all of them follow through. The Four Seasons Río Real development is different, and on 10 February 2026, it took another concrete step forward. For anyone who already loves East Marbella, following the hotel-hospitality industry in the area, or has been watching this part of the coast with interest, this is worth paying attention to.
This is what we know, where the project stands, and why it matters for one of the most naturally beautiful stretches of coastline on the Costa del Sol.
The Project in Brief
The Four Seasons Marbella is a large-scale, mixed-use luxury development planned for East Marbella, in the Río Real and El Pinar area between Torre Real and Los Monteros.
Located in this beautiful and well-connected part of Marbella East, the hotel plans to offer stunning Mediterranean views and gardens, combining the brand’s luxury style with Marbella’s Andalusian charm and landscape.
With reported investment ranging from €650 million to €740 million, the development includes a five-star hotel, branded residences, world-class dining and leisure facilities, 27 hectares for the resort and significant infrastructure works across a fully zoned site of approximately 325,000 m².
Environmental and urbanisation approvals have advanced meaningfully in recent years. Final building licences and confirmed construction timelines remain subject to further administrative stages, but the direction of travel is clear, and the progress made to date is substantial.
Aerial image of planned Four Seasons Hotel Expansion project in Los Pinos, Marbella East
What Has Actually Been Approved?
The El Pinar I (URP-RR-7) urbanisation project has advanced more substantively than a typical planning update might suggest.
In April 2024, the Junta de Andalucía opened the unified environmental authorisation (AAU/MA/28/23) for public consultation through BOJA, the Official Gazette of Andalucía.
On 10 February 2026, Marbella’s mayor, Ángeles Muñoz, presented the formal urbanisation project to the Junta de Gobierno Local, confirming that the partial plan for the site had already been approved and that the document would now be referred to the relevant bodies for sectoral reporting, the required consultation stage before enabling works can begin. Mayor Muñoz noted that the urbanisation project itself carries an investment of more than €9 million, underlining that the infrastructure commitment here is substantial well before the hotel construction itself breaks ground.
The environmental groundwork behind all of this stretches back to a strategic assessment first announced in September 2018, meaning this project has been carefully and thoroughly working through Spain’s planning system for the better part of a decade. The current position: the partial plan is approved, the environmental framework is cleared, the urbanisation plan is in active sectoral review, and first building licences are expected at some point in 2027.
What We Know About the Planned Four Seasons Hotel and Residences
The scope of what Fort Partners and Four Seasons are planning here is genuinely significant, and the detail that has emerged through planning documents and developer materials gives a clear picture of the finished vision.
The hotel is planned as a five-star Grand Luxury property: the highest tier in Four Seasons’ own classification, comprising approximately 80 rooms and 40 suites, for a total of around 120 keys. Designed by Richard Meier, the architect behind some of the world’s most celebrated contemporary buildings, the resort will sit across approximately 35 hectares of hillside-to-coastal land, with 720 linear metres of direct beachfront.
The dining concept is among the most ambitious aspects of the project: A village-like grouping of six or seven restaurants is planned across the complex, the kind of culinary destination thinking that defines a true resort. A private beach club and restaurant for hotel guests and residence owners will be positioned on the eastern stretch of the beachfront, while a public beach club and restaurant will occupy the western side, taking beachfront hospitality in this part of Marbella to an entirely new level.
The wellness facilities will include a world-class spa and wellness centre: Including indoor and outdoor pools, sauna, and steam rooms, alongside conference and event spaces capable of hosting everything from corporate gatherings to private celebrations.
The residences sit adjacent to the hotel and form an integral part of the masterplan: 136 private residences and 30 hotel residences, in a mix of villas, townhouses, and apartments. A pre-sales launch is planned for the first half of 2027, with first deliveries anticipated by the end of 2029 and full completion projected for 2031–2032.
The developers behind the project are a consortium of Fort Partners (Miami), Immobel (Belgium), and the Villa Padierna Group, led by Ricardo Arranz de Miguel. Fort Partners has delivered Four Seasons properties, including Surfside in Miami Beach, with further projects under development in Fort Lauderdale, Palm Springs, and Telluride. The combination of US hospitality expertise, European development experience, and established local knowledge gives this project a depth of resource that few developments of any kind can match.
It is also worth noting the broader context: Spain has been selected as the location for two new Four Seasons resorts, one in Madrid, one in Marbella. For a brand with more than 130 hotels and resorts across 47 countries, that selective approach to new markets says something about how Marbella is viewed internationally, contributing to the variety of luxury branded residences around Marbella.
Planned Conceptual Image for the Four Seasons Marbella project
Infrastructure First, Construction Second
One of the most telling details in the current planning stage is not the hotel itself, but the infrastructure committed alongside it, and the town hall has been explicit about what that means in practice.
The €9 million urbanisation programme includes acoustic screens on both sides of the A-7 motorway, a new pedestrian footbridge near the Teniente Riera intersection at PK 1.040 (replacing the existing structure), a service road extension reorganising all eastbound access points on the right-hand margin, a north–south underpass, and a new roundabout. The scheme also delivers 26,000 m² of new road infrastructure and more than 100,000 m² of public facilities, parks, and green space.
As Mayor Muñoz noted, these works “not only benefit the future hotel complex, but the entire urban environment.” That framing matters; this is infrastructure investment that improves East Marbella for everyone, not just the guests of a future resort.
The project also incorporates renewable energy and sustainability measures, including geothermal and solar elements, reflecting both the regulatory environment in Andalucía and the expectations of the Four Seasons brand at this tier.
Four Seasons Marbella Project History
Large-scale developments in Spain rarely move in a straight line, and the Four Seasons Río Real is no exception. What has changed over time, and what those changes tell us about where the project is heading, is worth documenting.
September 2018: The strategic environmental assessment (EAE) was formally admitted under reference EA/MA/012/18, the point at which the project entered Spain’s official environmental review system.
October 2019: The Junta de Andalucía published the strategic environmental report (IAE) in BOJA, marking the first major public milestone in the environmental assessment track.
2021: Developer materials from Immobel and Fort Partners publicly referenced a total project investment of €740 million, establishing the scale of financial commitment behind the scheme. The partial plan for the sector was also approved around this period.
April 2024: The Junta de Andalucía opened the unified environmental authorisation (AAU/MA/28/23) for public consultation through BOJA, the Official Gazette of Andalucía, a significant procedural milestone in the environmental review process.
July 2024: Local press reported the presence of squatters in a disused structure on a small section of the beachfront plot. The situation has since been resolved and has no bearing on the project’s planning or construction programme.
August 2025: Earlier projections had anticipated a pre-sales launch in early 2026 and building licences by the end of that year, with first phase completions by late 2028 and full completion by end of 2031. The current timeline reflects the natural progression of a project moving through a thorough and complex administrative process.
February 2026: The urbanisation project for El Pinar I was formally presented to Marbella’s Junta de Gobierno Local and referred for sectoral reporting. The Junta de Andalucía issued a favourable environmental resolution (AAU/MA/28/23). The planning timeline has been revised accordingly: a pre-sales launch for the residences is now expected in the first half of 2027, with first deliveries anticipated by end of 2029 and full project completion projected for 2031–2032, subject to the planning process concluding in 2027.
Why This Project Matters for East Marbella
The East Marbella property markethas always had a strong identity of its own. Areas like Río Real, Los Monteros, El Rosario, and Elviria attract buyers who know what they are looking for: pine forests, uncrowded beaches, relaxed restaurant areas, and a pace of life that most other parts of Marbella simply cannot replicate. Prices have been reflecting that appeal: properties in Elviria alone recorded average price-per-square-metre growth of over 22% in the year to late 2024.
This brand operates at the same level as the most coveted addresses in the world. Its presence in East Marbella would not just add a hotel; it would reframe how the area is perceived internationally, drawing a category of buyers and visitors who follow the Four Seasons wherever it goes. That kind of recognition has a way of confirming what those already invested in the area have known for years: that although always genuinely special, East Marbella is transforming with luxury hotel investments, and it’s only a matter of time to world to catch on.
With all this on the agenda for Marbella East, property values, quality and number if amenities and overall infrastructure in the area is about to take off, adding significantly to the world-class luxury offerings of Marbella’s renowned award-winning lifestyle.
Marbella Four Seasons FAQ
Where is the Four Seasons Marbella hotel being built?
The Four Seasons Marbella is being built in East Marbella, specifically in the El Pinar area near Río Real, between Torre Real and Los Monteros. The resort will span approximately 27 hectares of hillside-to-coastal land, with 720 linear metres of direct Mediterranean beachfront. This location offers stunning sea views while remaining well-connected to central Marbella and Málaga Airport.
When will the Four Seasons Marbella open?
Based on the current planning timeline, the Four Seasons Marbella is expected to deliver first residences by the end of 2029, with full project completion projected for 2031–2032. A pre-sales launch for the branded residences is anticipated in the first half of 2027, following the expected issuance of building licences. The urbanisation project received formal presentation in February 2026 and is currently in sectoral review.
How much is being invested in the Four Seasons Marbella development?
The total investment in the Four Seasons Marbella development ranges from €650 million to €740 million according to developer materials. This includes the five-star hotel, branded residences, dining and leisure facilities, and significant infrastructure works. The urbanisation programme alone carries an investment of more than €9 million for roads, public facilities, and green spaces.
What facilities will the Four Seasons Marbella include?
The Four Seasons Marbella will include approximately 120 hotel rooms and suites, 136 private residences and 30 hotel residences, six or seven restaurants in a village-like dining concept, private and public beach clubs, a world-class spa and wellness centre with indoor and outdoor pools, and conference and event spaces. The resort has been designed by acclaimed architect Richard Meier.
Who is developing the Four Seasons Marbella?
The Four Seasons Marbella is being developed by a consortium comprising Fort Partners from Miami, Immobel from Belgium, and the Villa Padierna Group led by Ricardo Arranz de Miguel. Fort Partners has previously delivered Four Seasons properties including Surfside, Miami Beach, bringing proven luxury hospitality expertise to the Costa del Sol project.
How will Four Seasons Marbella affect East Marbella property prices?
The Four Seasons development is expected to significantly enhance East Marbella’s international profile and property values. Properties in nearby Elviria already recorded average price-per-square-metre growth exceeding 22% in the year to late 2024. Combined with other planned luxury hotels including the Waldorf Astoria Higuerón and a beachfront hotel in Las Dunas, the area is positioned for substantial transformation in amenities, infrastructure, and market recognition.
A Project Moving With Purpose
After many years of anticipation, the Four Seasons Marbella East development is progressing with clear intent. The partial plan is approved. The environmental framework is cleared. The urbanisation plan is in active sectoral review. The infrastructure programme, backed by more than €9 million of committed works, is defined in detail. The architect is confirmed. And the developer consortium behind it has the track record and the resources to see it through.
For those already spending time in East Marbella, it is a welcome confirmation of what this stretch of coast has long deserved. For those still forming a view, whether drawn by the lifestyle, a property purchase, or simply watching where Marbella is heading, this is a development worth following closely.
If you would like to understand what the current property market in Marbella East looks like, or how a development of this nature fits into a wider buying or investment decision, contact MPDunne so we can talk you through it.
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.
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