Kalem Island investigation focuses on $45 million acquisition

An investigation is examining the ownership and acquisition of Kalem Island, located off the coast of Dikili, İzmir. Records indicate that in 2021, Alihan Kuriş purchased a 258-acre portion of the island—representing approximately two-thirds of its total area—under the name of his mother, Ayşe Gülderen Kuriş, for an estimated $45 million.

The island, often referred to as the ‘Maldives of the Aegean,’ features a mansion, olive groves, agricultural lands, and a mini-marina. Legal documents show a total of 191 real estate records held by Ayşe Gülderen Kuriş and Alihan Kuriş. Authorities are currently reviewing the financing and acquisition processes of these assets as part of the ongoing investigation.

Historically, the islands were owned by businessman Yüksel Dartar, who purchased Kalem and Garip islands in 1973. The island group also holds ancient significance, having been part of the Arginusai islands where a major naval battle between Athens and Sparta occurred in 406 BC.