In Ermioni, among olive groves and the blue waters of the Petrothalassa bays, one of the most ambitious tourism investments the Peloponnese has ever seen is about to begin, following the green light given by the Council of State. The project is called Scarlet Beach.
With a budget exceeding €200 million and a strategic plan that blends luxury with sustainability, Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s new venture brings international standards to Ermioni, reshaping the region’s tourism landscape.

The luxury resort will be built along the Porto Heli – Ermioni public road (north of the Kranidi bay). The site is characterized by a series of small coves, north of the Petrothalassa islet, into which several small streams flow. It is located 8 kilometers from Ermioni and 9.5 kilometers from Porto Heli.

The investment is funded by a group associated with the UAE royal family. The board of Scarlet Beach S.A. is connected to the International Holding Company, the investment arm of the Emirate’s royal family, chaired by Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the UAE royal family

The Council of State’s Fifth Section, chaired by Vice-President Christos Douchanis and rapporteur Dimitris Pyrgakis, reviewed the draft Presidential Decree and issued Opinion No. 19/2025. The council found the draft decree lawful but made 11 technical-legal observations.

A Haven of Sustainable Luxury

Scarlet Beach is not just another tourist complex. It is designed as a model of sustainable tourism, intended to harmonize with the environment and promote green development principles.
The project covers an area of 217,518 square meters, with only 12% land coverage, and all construction will adhere to strict environmental standards.

The old “Ermioni Club” hotel was demolished to make way for Scarlet Beach.

At the heart of the plan is a five-star hotel with 121 rooms, built to near-zero energy consumption standards (nZEB), with internal transportation exclusively by electric vehicles.
The project also includes 15 luxury residences, 9 of which will be branded residences and 6 private villas.

The resort will feature wellness areas, cultural venues, a beach club, a spa, gastronomic centers, shops, and sports facilities, with special provisions for accessibility for people with disabilities (PWD) and families with children.
The maximum building height is set at 10.75 meters for the hotel and 7.5 meters for the residences.
Buildings used for dining, recreation, hygiene facilities, sports activities, playgrounds, etc., cannot exceed 3.5 meters in height.

The tourist-furnished residences must not exceed 40% of the total construction area, meaning 10,440 square meters.
Plants are allowed to be grown on rooftops beyond the maximum building height but cannot exceed 65 cm in height.
The minimum distance of buildings from the shoreline is set at 50 meters for strictly tourist buildings and 30 meters for residential units within the complex.

From the Acropolis to Petrothalassa
“Scarlet Beach” is just one chapter of the sheikh’s broader investment footprint in Greece.
Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan is no ordinary figure—he is the brother of the President of the UAE and head of major economic institutions in the Arab world.
At just 23 years old, he founded First Gulf Bank, which later merged with the National Bank of Abu Dhabi to form First Abu Dhabi Bank.
He has been active in Greece for two decades.

His first “window” into Greece was the purchase of a five-story neoclassical building in Athens’ historic center.
This is the most prominent property in the historic center of Athens—a five-story neoclassical building located at the corner of Dionysiou Areopagitou and Makrygianni streets, directly opposite the Acropolis, with a breathtaking view.
The property previously belonged to businessman Giannis Tzivelis and was acquired by the sheikh in 2019 at auction for €6.5 million.
Today, the building is considered one of the most expensive properties in Athens, with its value estimated at over €55 million.

His investment philosophy is not limited to tourism. Through Olivian Groves, he manages 28,000 olive trees in Ermioni and another 6,500 trees in Messinia, in a model agricultural project producing organic extra virgin olive oil, free of chemicals and respectful of biodiversity.

The product is internationally exported as a premium brand, connecting the taste of Greek land to global consumers.
The old “Ermioni Club” hotel, with its 450 beds, was a Porto Heli landmark for decades.
The sheikh acquired and demolished it, paving the way for a new tourism identity.
On that same land, “Scarlet Beach” will be developed, fully aligned with modern aesthetics, environmental consciousness, and contemporary needs.

Greece as a Global Premium Destination
The investment in Petrothalassa is not an isolated project but part of a broader vision for Greece.
The country is no longer seen merely as a vacation spot but is becoming a choice for life, entrepreneurship, and innovation.
Through strategic, high-quality investments, Sheikh Tahnoun contributes to Greece’s transition from a destination to a broader prospect.
As noted by the Council of State, Scarlet Beach is considered “a model of mild, sustainable development.”