The far-right party “Conservatives for Georgia” is calling on the public to protest the construction of “Arab cities” in Georgia—large-scale real estate developments planned in Krtsanisi and Gonio, funded by UAE investors.
The pro-Kremlin party called on citizens to gather near the Akhmeteli Theater on June 12 to join the protest and “stop the construction of Arab cities” in the country, framing it as their political and civic initiative.
Notably, “Arab cities” is an informal name given to two large-scale projects by opponents of Georgian Dream. They are to be built in Tbilisi’s Krtsanisi district (Tbilisi Waterfront) and in Gonio, Adjara. The projects will be developed by the UAE-based company Eagle Hills:
- in Tbilisi’s Krtsanisi district, a multifunctional residential and business quarter is planned;
- near Batumi, in Gonio, Adjara (Gonio Yachts and Marina), which includes residential development, tourism infrastructure, and a yacht marina.
The combined investment in both projects is estimated at approximately $6 billion; they are positioned by the authorities as major international urban initiatives involving foreign capital.
Opponents refer to these complexes as “Arab cities,” highlighting the involvement of Gulf investors, while critics point to risks of opaque deals, overdevelopment, and the potential impact of foreign capital on the urban environment.
Meanwhile, the Georgian authorities view the projects as significant investments capable of attracting billions of dollars and stimulating the economy and construction sector.