In Ibiza, a groundbreaking development is redefining heritage real estate as a strategic asset—one that can be acquired via Luxembourg holdings and other tailored investment vehicles.
On the sun-drenched hills of Ibiza’s southwest coast, overlooking the mystical rock of Es Vedrà, a discreet estate embodies a quiet yet significant shift in the world of high-end property. Sabina Estates, founded in 2015 by British investor Glyn Hirsch, Spanish developer Agustín del Pino, and financier Anton Bilton, introduces a new approach to residential assets: positioned at the crossroads of lifestyle, rental performance, and portfolio diversification.
Neither a hotel resort, nor a traditional residential complex, nor a speculative gated enclave, Sabina claims a hybrid positioning built on three pillars: usability, operational yield, and multigenerational legacy. This formula that resonates with a highly selective audience: ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs), family offices, and European or Anglo-Saxon investors seeking a tangible eurozone asset.
Villas as safe-haven assets
One of Sabina’s strengths lies in its ability to blend contemporary architecture with local identity. Each of the 20 planned villas has been entrusted to a renowned figure in international architecture – including Sir David Chipperfield, John Pawson, Ramón Esteve, and Rolf Blakstad, a specialist in reinterpreted Ibicencan style.
In contrast to monolithic developments, Sabina has opted for curated diversity: sustainable materials, volumes shaped by the landscape, and architectural integration with the terrain. There is no repetition, but rather a coherent whole: every villa benefits from unobstructed views, optimal solar orientation, and discreet seclusion, all within a deliberately limited footprint. This principle of architectural rarity directly enhances the property’s value – both in terms of rental yield and resale potential.
An investment product with structural profitability
While Sabina aligns with long-term wealth preservation, its model also relies on a clearly structured operational profitability. Each villa can be included in a premium rental management programme overseen by an in-house team (concierge services, maintenance, yield management, VIP guest reception, and more).
Rental demand is strong, particularly during high season, with weekly rates exceeding €25,000 for the most coveted villas, and occupancy rates reaching up to 80% over a four-to-five-month period. Due to the island’s land scarcity, stricter building regulations, and the growing sophistication of its clientele, supply-side tension is structural, ensuring a stable value foundation regardless of economic fluctuations.
A structure tailored to international investors
Beyond the real estate product itself, Sabina offers well-honed legal and fiscal structuring, allowing acquisitions through Luxembourg holdings, French wealth vehicles, or Anglo-Saxon trusts. All local administrative processes (licensing, rental income taxation, VAT, etc.) are fully handled by a dedicated team, streamlining remote property management.
As such, investors can integrate Sabina into their portfolios as a productive asset with variable income, eurozone exposure, and medium-term liquidity potential. Selling a villa within such a coherent and tightly controlled estate offers a rare case of liquid niche real estate — well suited to intergenerational wealth transfer or asset reallocation.
Ibiza: from party island to strategic destination
Sabina’s appeal is inextricably linked to Ibiza’s broader repositioning. Long perceived as a seasonal and hedonistic destination, the island has, over recent years, embraced a more sustainable model: upscale tourism, wellness, design, gastronomy, and culture. The arrival of new art galleries, Michelin-starred chefs, and a revitalised local creative scene further reinforce this shift.
The pandemic acted as a catalyst: remote work, residential mobility, and the search for high-quality private spaces all boosted demand for locations that are both secluded and well-connected. In this context, Ibiza – with its proximity to European capitals, stable local tax environment, and strict environmental regulations – is emerging as a secure hub for second homes, drawing in both family-oriented and entrepreneurial profiles.
A laboratory for more conscious high-end real estate
Sabina does not claim to be a universal model. Its positioning is exclusive by design, and the high entry threshold excludes most traditional investors. But it sets a precedent: for a form of prime real estate that is less speculative, more qualitative, and better structured.
“Sabina was born of our shared desire to create something rare, durable, and meaningful”
“Sabina was born of our shared desire to create something rare, durable, and meaningful – not just a place to live, but a living asset, capable of delivering returns while serving a legacy,” explains Glyn Hirsch, co-founder of the project and former CEO of Safestore Holdings, a leading provider of self-storage solutions in the UK and Paris.
With its limited scope, strong identity, proven rental model, and consistent governance, the estate may well inspire a new generation of post-luxury residential projects – focused on usability, sustainability, and legacy.
An asset at the intersection of lifestyle and legacy
Sabina Estates is not selling a product. It offers a residential experience conceived as an asset. At a time when traditional asset classes are marked by volatility and realignment, prime property emerges as a stabilising force. In this evolving landscape, Sabina ticks many boxes: rare location, integrated landscape design, optimised rental management, controlled tax environment, and strong resale potential.
It should not be viewed as a lifestyle purchase, but as a strategic component of a long-term wealth plan – and perhaps, for some investors, the cornerstone of a new family chapter or a high-performing emotional asset.
In a saturated market of standardised properties, Sabina Estates points the way towards a more discerning, coherent, and ultimately more sustainable vision of high-end real estate.
This article was published in the 7th edition of Forbes Luxembourg.
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