Unfinished Disney-style castles haunt Turkey's construction dreams, 13 years on

In Turkey, the Burj Al Babas development project, which promised a community of Disney-style castles, remains in a state of disrepair thirteen years after its inception. Initially aimed at attracting Gulf investments, the project faced significant construction issues and financial mismanagement. The Sarot Group, responsible for the development, encountered operational disruptions, including a public protest from a contractor over unpaid wages, which escalated the project's challenges. By late 2016, state intervention deemed necessary, the Turkish government took control of the Sarot Group's affairs to manage the unfinished castles and facilitate completion. Despite millions in sales, the Sarot Group failed to pay contractors and meet deadlines, raising questions about their financial practices. Buyers of the villas are hopeful yet skeptical about receiving their properties, as they have yet to address outstanding fees owed. There is a prevailing sentiment among investors that the project’s completion may not come from the original developers. The fate of the Burj Al Babas development encapsulates the larger issues plaguing Turkey’s construction sector under President Erdoğan, including corruption and inefficiency.