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Property News
Málaga’s long-awaited San Andrés Marina project could be moving closer to reality following a major development in its ownership negotiations. Planned for the Huelin district, west of Málaga’s historic centre, the new marina is designed to bring a substantial new nautical, leisure and commercial destination to the city’s waterfront.
The latest news, reported on 28–29 October 2026, is that the Qatari investment fund Al Alfia has agreed to sell its interest in the marina concession to Ocean Platform Marinas (OPM), a company associated with established marina entrepreneur José Luis Almazán and backed by a group of investors that includes tennis star Rafael Nadal as a minority shareholder. The transfer still requires approval from the Málaga Port Authority and other relevant port authorities before it can be completed.
If the transaction proceeds and the development finally gets underway, San Andrés could become an important new addition to Málaga’s expanding tourism, leisure and waterfront infrastructure.
The proposed change of ownership comes after several years of delays, negotiations and uncertainty surrounding the marina. The project was awarded a 50-year public-port concession in February 2023 to Marina Málaga San,S.L., with Al Alfia as the principal investor and specialist marina partners involved in the original proposal. During 2026, the lack of progress became an increasing concern for the port authorities, with the concessionaire under pressure to complete the detailed project, obtain the necessary building permission and move towards construction.
The latest agreement with OPM offers a potential route forward. According to reporting published on 29 October, the transfer remains subject to official approval, and the authorities are examining the documentation. The new investors are expected to bring additional financial backing, although the final purchase price has not been disclosed.
The change is significant because OPM is associated with an established marina operation at Málaga’s Muelle Uno waterfront. Its experience in the nautical sector could help bring the San Andrés scheme from planning into delivery. However, the ownership agreement is not the same as construction approval. The project still needs to complete the outstanding administrative and development steps before work can begin.
The marina will be developed near the mouth of the Guadalmedina River, beside Huelin Park and San Andrés Beach, in the western part of Málaga’s port area. It is intended to create a new waterfront destination combining recreational boating, hospitality, shopping and leisure. The latest published plans describe a marina with 506 berths, including facilities for larger yachts of up to 50 metres. Earlier concession documents specified capacity for 566 recreational boats, so the final configuration should be confirmed against the approved detailed project.
A modern marina for recreational boating. The latest proposal includes 506 berths for boats of different sizes, from smaller recreational craft to superyachts. Around 400 spaces are intended for boats under 12 metres, with dedicated berths for larger vessels.
Commercial and hospitality facilities. Plans include a waterfront shopping and leisure area, restaurants, specialist nautical shops and commercial premises. The intention is to create an attractive destination for boat owners, residents and visitors rather than a marina used exclusively for mooring.
A yacht club and sailing school. A nautical club, sailing school and facilities for other maritime activities are central to the proposed development, helping to establish the marina as a destination for recreational boating and sailing education.
Boat storage and operational facilities. The plans include a dry marina, workshops, storage areas and a control tower. Recent reporting specifies dry storage for around 100 boats, while the original concession announcement referred to capacity for 300. The final approved design will determine the definitive capacity.
The development is also expected to include substantial parking provision and improved road access, with infrastructure intended to separate recreational traffic from port freight movements.
One of the most significant changes concerns the anticipated investment. Earlier reports put the development cost at approximately €54 million. However, reporting published on 29 October 2026 suggests that rising construction costs and the time elapsed since the original proposal could push the required investment to between €60 million and €70 million. This remains a reported estimate rather than a confirmed final budget. The latest reports suggest construction is unlikely to start until well into 2027, provided the ownership transfer and outstanding approvals are completed. This is an indicative forecast, not a formally confirmed construction date.
The main milestones to watch are:
These steps will determine whether the latest agreement finally unlocks a project that has faced repeated delays.
The San Andrés Marina forms part of a wider transformation of western Málaga, where new cultural, leisure and commercial infrastructure is expected to complement existing residential neighbourhoods. Its location close to Huelin Park, San Andrés Beach and the proposed Málaga Music Auditorium gives the scheme the potential to connect several waterfront attractions into a more integrated visitor destination. The port authority has also identified the marina as a project intended to revitalise the western port area and generate additional economic activity.
For the property market, several potential benefits are worth monitoring.
1. Greater appeal for international visitors - A new marina with restaurants, nautical activities andwaterfront leisure facilities could add another reason for visitors to spendtime in Málaga beyond its historic centre, museums and beaches. The extent towhich this generates additional overnight stays remains to be seen.
2. New opportunities for holiday rentals - Apartments within convenient reach of the marina, beach, city centre and public transport could appeal to visitors looking for city breaks, longer winter stays and activity-based holidays. However, rental performance will depend on property quality, pricing, seasonality and compliance with the applicable tourist-rental rules.
3. Potential regeneration around Huelin - Improved public spaces and new leisure facilities may strengthen the appeal of the surrounding neighbourhood. Whether this translates into higher property prices or rents will depend on the delivery of the marina and other planned developments, as well as wider housing-market conditions.
4. Increased commercial activity and employment - The original concession announcement estimated annual economic impact of approximately €15.7 million and anticipated direct, indirect and induced employment from the project. These are developer projections, not measured results, and should be reassessed once the final design and operational model are confirmed.
For property owners and investors, the important point is that these benefits remain potential outcomes rather than guaranteed returns. The marina's eventual opening date, the quality of its commercial offer and the wider evolution of Málaga's housing market will all influence its impact.
Málaga has continued to develop its profile as an international city break destination, supported by its cultural attractions, transport connections, beaches and growing range of leisure facilities. The San Andrés Marina could complement that offering with a more substantial recreational boating destination on the western side of the city. The proposed ownership change is an encouraging development after years of uncertainty. OPM's involvement, together with its links to existing marina operations in Málaga, provides a potential opportunity to move the scheme forward.
Nevertheless, the project remains at a transitional stage. The concession transfer must be approved, the outstanding development requirements must be resolved and construction must begin before the marina's wider economic and property-market benefits can be properly assessed.
For Málaga residents, businesses and property investors, 2027 could become an important year to watch. If the current plans progress as anticipated, San Andrés could eventually become a prominent new feature of the city's waterfront and a further contributor to its long-term tourism and urban regeneration.
Sources and references:
1. SUR in English — 29 October 2026 - Malaga's future San Andrés marina to be operated by mega-yacht marina partner
2. EL ESPAÑOL — 29 October 2026 - El soñado Puerto Banús de Málaga encara una nueva etapa: inversión de casi 70millones y obras previstas para 2027
3. Málaga Hoy — 27 October 2026 - Los cataríes acuerdan la venta del Puerto Deportivo de San Andrés a la empresacon participación de Nadal
4. Boletín Oficial del Estado (BOE) — 14 March 2023 - Resolution granting the administrative concession to Marina Málaga San, S.L.
5. EL ESPAÑOL — 21 March 2025 - El Puerto de Málaga da luz verde a la marina de San Andrés: 600 atraques y zona comercial
6. Public Sector Procurement Platform — 2025 - New access road to the San Andrés Sports Marina in the Port of Málaga
7. Málaga Hoy - Official documents and project background.
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