Key points:
- Hard Rock International and db Group have started construction on a mixed-use development in Malta
- The project consists of the Hard Rock Hotel Malta, Ora Residences and a 20,000-square-meter shopping mall
- The development is expected to be completed by 2026 and create several hundred jobs
Hard Rock International and Malta-based db Group have begun construction on a €300m ($329m) development in St George’s Bay, Malta.
The project will feature a five-star hotel, luxury residential towers and a large shopping complex.
A foundation stone-laying ceremony was held to mark the start of the development, attended by Hard Rock executives, db Group officials and Malta’s Prime Minister Robert Abela.
The Hard Rock Hotel Malta will include 394 rooms, with most offering views of the Mediterranean Sea and 25 private suites featuring individual pools.
The development also incorporates the preservation of British military quarters from the 1860s, integrating these structures into the new hotel design.
The Ora Residences, part of the mixed-use development, will consist of two residential towers, providing luxury apartments. The residences will offer various amenities, including private pools, concierge services and temperature-controlled wine cellars.
In addition, the complex will include a 20,000-square-meter shopping mall, with a variety of retail outlets and entertainment options.
Good to know: The project is expected to be completed by early 2026 and will create several hundred jobs. Along with the hotel and residences, the development will include 12 restaurants and bars, 1,300 parking spaces and 5,000 square meters of public and green spaces.
Abela commented: “As we look to the future, our focus is on attracting high-yield travellers while enriching the very essence of our tourism industry."
This project is part of Hard Rock International’s ongoing expansion in Europe. The company has completed other major developments, including Hard Rock Casino Rockford in Illinois, USA, which opened in 2024 after a $300m investment.
The Rockford project included gaming facilities, dining options and entertainment spaces. Hard Rock’s European portfolio includes properties in Ibiza, Tenerife and an upcoming development in Athens.
