Algeria Recovers €100 Million Barcelona Hotel Owned by Ali Haddad

The Algerian state has recovered a luxury hotel in Barcelona valued at €100 million, previously owned by jailed businessman Ali Haddad, as part of its broader effort to reclaim embezzled assets abroad.

According to La Vanguardia, the Spanish newspaper confirmed the recovery operation, which was executed under a Spanish legal mechanism known as “dation in payment” (dación en pago). This procedure allows the transfer of property ownership in lieu of debt repayment — a method that aligns with the Algerian legal framework introduced this year for asset restitution.

The operation, completed on August 1, 2025, followed a coordinated legal and diplomatic effort by Algerian authorities to trace and recover funds and assets illicitly transferred overseas.

Ali Haddad, once one of Algeria’s most influential businessmen and head of the ETRHB construction group, is currently serving a prison sentence for corruption. The hotel, one of Barcelona’s most prestigious establishments, was reportedly purchased for around €100 million.

President Abdelmadjid Tebboune recently reaffirmed Algeria’s determination to recover assets embezzled by members of the former ruling elite known as the “Issaba.” He revealed that nearly $30 billion in stolen funds and properties have already been repatriated. The president also expressed gratitude to Spain, calling it a “friendly country” for its cooperation in returning the five-star hotel to Algerian ownership.