Eastern Marbella: a new growth point on the luxury real estate map

While all the attention of international buyers is traditionally focused on the Golden Mile and Puerto Banús, on the eastern side of the city one of the most interesting growth stories along the entire Costa del Sol coast is unfolding quietly. East Marbella for many years remained a calm family corner among pine trees and golden beaches. Today, it is turning into one of the most promising areas to buy real estate, drawing a wave of major investment, global hotel brands, and steady double-digit price growth.

In this article, we will look at what is happening in East Marbella, why this area is becoming a new growth point, and what opportunities it offers to buyers and investors.

What is East Marbella

East Marbella stretches along the coast to the east of the city center and includes a range of residential areas: Río Real, Los Monteros, El Rosario, Las Chapas, Elviria, Cabopino, and others. The area began to develop back in the mid-1960s and historically attracted those looking for a quieter life among pine and cork forests, with easy access to the best beaches and golf courses in Marbella.

The character of this part of the city is noticeably different from the glamorous west. Here, pine groves meet golden beaches, the shoreline is less crowded, restaurants are more relaxed, and the pace of life is calmer than on the western side. At the same time, the area has always been known for high-quality real estate: from luxury beachfront villas in Los Monteros to modern apartments and country houses.

An additional advantage of East Marbella is its convenient location. From here, it is easy to get to both the center of Marbella and Málaga Airport, which makes the area suitable for year-round living and for those who travel often.

Why now

For decades, East Marbella has had a solid foundation of appeal: beaches, golf, established residential areas, spacious plots, and restrained high-end villas. What the area sometimes lacked was global recognition, the international attention that the Golden Mile attracts. And that is changing now.

Several major world-class projects are moving into the construction stage in the coming years, and each of them, for the first time, brings a globally known hotel brand to East Marbella. This new wave of development is built on the area’s existing strength, reinforcing its appeal as a place to live and invest.

Major projects reshaping the area

The scale of investment coming to East Marbella is impressive.

Las Dunas project in Las Chapas. On a beachfront site of more than 160,000 square meters, a resort project is being developed with investments estimated in the hundreds of millions of euros. It includes a five-star hotel, branded residences, a beach club, restaurants, and resort-level service. Marbella city authorities approved the urbanization license, which became an important step for a project that had been discussed for about a decade. Notably, the works also include restoring the dunes of the protected Dunas de Marbella area, creating new public spaces, pedestrian zones, and cycle paths.

World-class hotel brands. In the Las Chapas area, the historic golf club was acquired by a developer and announced as Higuerón Marbella Golf Resort, with the project including the opening of a Waldorf Astoria hotel, the first for this brand in Spain. A Four Seasons brand is also expected to come to this part of the coast.

Upgrading landmark hotels. The area’s legendary hotels are experiencing a second birth. Don Carlos in Elviria reopened after a major renovation, with updated interiors, restaurants, a wellness area, and Rafa Nadal’s tennis center. The former Los Monteros hotel is now operating as the five-star Kimpton Los Monteros under an international lifestyle brand. And in Río Real, the revival of the famous Incosol is planned as a health, wellness, and longevity hotel.

Each of these projects not only adds infrastructure to the area, but also raises its status, attracting international attention and capital.

Prices and growth dynamics

The clearest confirmation that East Marbella has become a growth point is price dynamics.

As of early 2026, the average asking prices per square meter in East Marbella areas show steady double-digit annual growth. In Reserva de Marbella, growth is about 22.5 percent; in Cabopino and Artola, about 16.6 percent; in Elviria, about 14.9 percent; and in Romana Playa, about 10.7 percent. According to separate estimates of actual transaction prices, Río Real and Los Monteros showed particularly strong growth, around 23 percent per year.

At the same time, it is important to understand: despite rapid growth, East Marbella is still more affordable compared to the Golden Mile. Estimated prices are about 5,300 euros per square meter in Río Real and Los Monteros, about 5,600 euros in Las Chapas and El Rosario, about 4,500 euros in Elviria and Cabopino. This price gap highlights the value that is still available in East Marbella, especially considering beachfront locations, golf courses, and established residential communities.

For buyers, this means a rare combination: an area with already proven quality of life, which is at the beginning of a new growth phase, supported by real investment.

You can view current real estate listings in East Marbella in the ABARZO catalog.

Areas of East Marbella

It is worth looking at the individual areas, each of which has its own character.

Los Monteros. One of the most prestigious residential areas in East Marbella, known for luxury beachfront villas. Located between the sites of future landmark hotels, it benefits directly from several projects at once. You can explore the available villas and apartments in Los Monteros in our catalog.

Elviria. A calm area in pine hills with beautiful beaches, benefiting from the arrival of the Las Dunas resort and renovated hotels, while also showing strong price growth. You can view new developments and villas in Elviria in the ABARZO catalog.

Cabopino. An area with a charming marina and some of the most beautiful natural beaches in Marbella, next to a protected dune nature reserve. Attractive for its combination of nature, golf, and beach life. Available apartments and villas in Cabopino are presented in our catalog.

Río Real. A hilly area with sea views and direct access to the golf course, which will significantly benefit from infrastructure improvements accompanying the hotel projects. You can view real estate in Río Real in the ABARZO catalog.

Las Chapas and El Rosario. Residential areas near forming hotel clusters, offering space and calm combined with access to world-class amenities. You can explore homes and villas in Las Chapas and El Rosario in our catalog.

What drives demand

Besides major projects, East Marbella’s growth is supported by several stable market trends in 2026.

Branded residences. Private homes as part of hotel and resort complexes, giving owners access to hotel services and property management, are becoming increasingly in demand. Their price premium reflects construction quality, service level, and the potential for rental income.

Energy efficiency. Buyers increasingly prefer modern homes with good energy characteristics, air-to-heat heating systems, and solar panels, making new developments in East Marbella especially attractive.

Resort-style living. Demand is growing for gated communities with 24/7 security, wellness areas, and on-site infrastructure, and new projects in the area are responding to exactly this need.

International demand. East Marbella is being discovered by affluent buyers from around the world, including a growing flow of clients from the Middle East and North America.

Looking ahead

Major projects take time to implement, but the direction is clear. East Marbella is an established residential coastline that is now playing an increasingly important role in the next phase of Marbella’s development as a resort, residential, and hotel destination.

For buyers and investors, this creates a special opportunity, the so-called early entry advantage. Entering the area market during its transformation phase, when prices still remain separated from the Golden Mile, but are already growing at double-digit rates alongside real investment, means a potentially advantageous position for years to come.

East Marbella combines what has always made it attractive: pine forests, golden beaches, a calm way of life, and quality real estate, with what is appearing now: global recognition, world brands, and a wave of investment. It is exactly this combination that makes it one of the most interesting points on Marbella’s real estate map today.

To view the full real estate catalog in East Marbella visit the ABARZO website.

The ABARZO team closely monitors the development of East Marbella and will help you find a property that best meets both the goals of comfortable living and the logic of long-term investment in one of the most promising areas on the coast.

ABARZO Real Estate — Your guide to real estate and lifestyle in Marbella