Barbuda, long considered the quiet little sister of Antigua, is rapidly transforming into one of the Caribbean's most sought-after residential and resort destinations — with Hollywood icon Robert De Niro among those driving the change. According to Antigua News Room, citing a report by Forbes, the development marks a significant turning point for an island that has historically received only a fraction of the visitors that neighbouring Antigua attracts.
De Niro's connection to Barbuda stretches back 35 years, when he first encountered the island while sailing through the Caribbean. The pristine white sands of Princess Diana Beach — named in honour of the royal who once frequented its shores — left a lasting impression. When a waterfront parcel of land eventually came up for sale, De Niro and his business partners moved to secure it, setting in motion a decades-in-the-making vision for the island's development.
That vision began taking shape in late 2020 with the opening of Nobu Barbuda, the island's first restaurant of its kind. The venture pairs the globally recognised Nobu dining experience with an exclusive beach club and lounge, and has proven an immediate success with visitors.
But Nobu Barbuda represents only the beginning. The broader development — known as The Beach Club, Barbuda — is now underway. The project spans nearly 400 acres of largely untouched land and runs along more than two miles of beachfront. Designed as a low-density, sustainability-focused resort and residential community, it aims to elevate Barbuda from a casual day-trip destination into a world-class address in its own right.
The full Forbes feature on the development is available at forbes.com.
