Callaloo Cay Resort Project Breaks Ground in Antigua

A major new resort project has broken ground in Antigua and Barbuda: Callaloo Cay.

The luxury development is the brainchild of Al Caribi Antigua Development Limited — a joint venture between Sheik Tariq Bin Faisal Al Qassimi of Dubai and the government of Antigua and Barbuda.

Tariq is behind a number of high-profile properties in Dubai, highlighted by the Palazzo Versace Dubai five-star hotel. He is the chairman of Emirates Investment Group.

Callaloo Cay will be a five-star property with between 95 and 100 rooms along with 40 villas, a spa, a beach club and waterside dining concepts on a 32-acre site.

The project will include the development of a five-acre national park for local residents and guests.

Calalloo Cay will be set on the southwestern portion of Antigua dubbed Antigua’s “green corridor,” an initiative aimed at improving local sustainability.

The development team includes architectural firm OBMI and financial advisory company KPMG.

Al Qassimi is behind the high-profile Palazzo Versace in Dubai.

The $200 million project is targeting a late 2020 completion date, with “hundreds” of jobs created upon completion.

“Callaloo Cay will lead to increasing the room availability, and broadening our twin-island nations portfolio of distinguished properties,” said Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Minister Asot Michael. “Increasing the room availability – in a sustainable manner and representing a quality that matches the standard of Antigua and Barbuda – is of utmost distinction and importance.”

It will not be a large-scale project, with max building heights “no higher than a palm tree,” according to Michael.

The project is part of Antigua and Barbuda’s Citizenship by Investment program.