For a long time Marbella has been one of the favourite haunts of the European jet set, as people have flocked to the area for its warm Mediterranean climate, beautiful surroundings and exciting nightlife. This trend looks set to continue, with planning permission recently been granted for a stunning new 'super Marina' in the resort, set to rival the nearby one at Puerto Banus.

Marbella's new marina will be situated in the fishing village of La Bajadilla, just eight kilometres away from central Marbella. The new Marina will be built by a Qatari consortium who currently own the local Malaga football club.

The new marina in Marbella looks set to emulate the success seen at the nearby Puerto Banus Marina, which is currently one of the largest entertainment centres in southern Spain. At present, the marina in Puerto Banus attracts over 5 million visitors every year and has berths for over 900 yachts and speedboats.

The new marina looks set to have 500 births along a circular pier, as well as a 200m long quayside which will be designed to accommodate cruise liners. As well as the marine berths, the new Marina in Puerto Banus will also be home to a five-star hotel and a number of new bars and restaurants.

The resort is currently one of Spain's most popular tourist destinations, and demand for property in Marbella has increased steadily over the past 20 years and signs are that a gradual recovery is beginning to emerge from the recent economic downturn.