Polidano Group
A Maltese privately held group whose core business is construction and infrastructure development, with additional activities in property, hospitality, leisure and manufacturing.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Polidano Group is a Maltese privately held business group best known for construction and infrastructure work. It traces its origins to 1982, when brothers Charles Polidano and Paul Polidano established a small construction company. The business was incorporated as Polidano Brothers Ltd in July 1987 and expanded as Malta's construction sector became more mechanised. Its growth was associated with investment in construction equipment and industrial methods at a time when building work in Malta remained comparatively labour-intensive. Construction and manufacturing form the group's central operating base. Over several decades, businesses associated with Polidano participated in a range of large Maltese projects, including work connected with the Malta Freeport terminal, Lufthansa Technik facilities, WasteServ's Sant' Antnin Solid Waste Treatment Plant and the North Sewage Treatment Plant. The group has also been involved in the development or construction of major hotels and large property schemes, including the Westin Dragonara, the InterContinental and Hilton properties, and housing developments at Portomaso and Tigné Point. These activities positioned the group as one of the most prominent private construction businesses in Malta. The group's activities extend beyond contracting. Its stated or reported interests include property development, hospitality and leisure, manufacturing, and the operation or ownership of venues and attractions. The hospitality portfolio has been associated with properties such as The Westin Dragonara and Le Méridien in St Julian's. Polidano also owns or controls Montekristo Estates outside Siġġiewi, a large mixed-use leisure and entertainment complex incorporating event venues, entertainment facilities, a zoo, a restaurant, a winery and an olive-oil mill operation. Polidano Group's public profile has also been shaped by planning, environmental and tax controversies. Planning authorities and courts have dealt with allegations involving unauthorised or disputed construction at developments in Balzan, Ħal Farruġ and Montekristo Estates. In one Balzan case, a court initially imposed a €100,000 fine in 2013 in connection with failure to comply with a conservation order; the fine was reduced to €10,000 on appeal in 2017, while compliance obligations remained. In another case, the Planning Authority regularised developments at the group's Ħal Farruġ headquarters in 2021 after a prolonged enforcement process, subject to a fine. Montekristo Estates was also the subject of enforcement action and court proceedings over alleged illegal structures and works. In 2020, reporting by Times of Malta described substantial unpaid tax liabilities attributed to Polidano Brothers Ltd and other companies associated with Charles Polidano. The reports also raised questions about participation in public tenders and subsequent claims that the group had been excluded from public procurement. In 2022, Charles Polidano and his son Gordon were arrested on suspicion of corruption involving a senior official and a property transaction, and were released on bail. The reported arrest represented an allegation rather than a final finding of guilt. Because ownership structures, current leadership responsibilities, financial results and the present status of several legal matters are not fully established in the supplied sources, those details should be treated cautiously.
History
Polidano Group began in 1982 when Charles Polidano and his brother Paul founded a small construction business in Malta. The enterprise was incorporated as Polidano Brothers Ltd in July 1987. Its early expansion was linked to the mechanisation of Maltese construction, with investment in equipment and industrial capacity helping it move beyond small-scale building work. Over the following decades, the business developed into one of Malta's largest private construction companies. The group's construction record includes participation in major infrastructure and industrial projects. Reported examples include the extension of Terminal 1 at Malta Freeport, a Lufthansa Technik hangar, WasteServ's Sant' Antnin Solid Waste Treatment Plant and the North Sewage Treatment Plant. The group also worked on prominent hotel and property developments, including the Westin Dragonara, InterContinental and Hilton hotels, and high-end residential and mixed-use schemes at Portomaso and Tigné Point. These projects broadened the company's public visibility and established construction and civil engineering as its core activities. Polidano subsequently diversified into manufacturing, property development, hospitality and leisure. Its hospitality interests have included properties in St Julian's, notably The Westin Dragonara and Le Méridien. The group also became associated with Montekristo Estates, a large property outside Siġġiewi containing event and entertainment facilities, a zoo, restaurant, winery and olive-oil operation. This diversification gave the group a presence in consumer-facing leisure businesses in addition to its construction operations. The group has faced repeated disputes with Maltese planning and environmental authorities. In Balzan, it commenced work on a proposed 40-apartment block after the relevant planning application had been rejected on overdevelopment grounds. The site was cleared of trees and subsequently remained in a poor condition. The Malta Environment and Planning Authority issued an emergency conservation order in 2011. A court imposed a €100,000 fine in 2013, but the criminal appeals court reduced it to €10,000 in 2017 after noting that a later development permission provided for a green enclave. The obligation to observe the conservation order remained, together with a possible daily penalty. The group's headquarters complex at Ħal Farruġ, on land near Malta International Airport, was also subject to enforcement proceedings. The development reportedly included a 19-metre office block, underground parking, a brick factory and accommodation for foreign workers, constructed without the necessary permit. Following a 2010 application for regularisation and an enforcement notice issued in 2011, the Planning Authority legalised the developments in 2021 against a fine of €32,754. Montekristo Estates generated another prolonged planning dispute. The Planning Authority described the site as one of Malta's largest illegally built construction sites and attempted enforcement action in 2013, including proposed demolition of several structures. A court injunction prevented the immediate demolition. In 2020 the authority stopped further alleged illegal works involving towers near the main gate, after the site had accumulated more than €700,000 in daily fines according to the cited material. The group's financial and procurement position also attracted scrutiny. In 2020, Times of Malta reported approximately €30.4 million in tax arrears attributed to Polidano Brothers Ltd, alongside additional liabilities associated with other companies linked to Charles Polidano. Subsequent reporting said the group was blacklisted from public tenders, although Charles Polidano continued to submit bids through other controlled companies and to work with other developers. In July 2022, Charles Polidano and Gordon Polidano were arrested in a corruption investigation concerning an alleged payment or inducement connected with a property transaction. They were released on bail. The supplied sources do not establish the final legal outcome of that investigation.
- 2022
Charles and Gordon Polidano arrested
[1]The two family members are arrested in a corruption investigation and later released on bail.
- 2021
Ħal Farruġ developments regularised
[1]The Planning Authority legalises the disputed headquarters-related developments subject to a fine.
- 2020
Tax arrears publicly reported
[1]Reporting details substantial tax arrears attributed to Polidano Brothers Ltd and other related companies.
- 2017
Balzan fine reduced on appeal
[1]The criminal appeals court reduces the Balzan-related fine to €10,000 while maintaining conservation-order obligations.
- 2013
Balzan court fine imposed
[1]A court fines Polidano Group €100,000 in connection with the Balzan conservation-order dispute.
- 2013
Montekristo enforcement action
[1]The Planning Authority takes enforcement action at Montekristo Estates over alleged illegal structures; a court injunction prevents immediate demolition.
- 2011
Conservation and enforcement orders issued
[1]Authorities issue an emergency conservation order for the Balzan site and an enforcement notice concerning the Ħal Farruġ headquarters development.
- 2009
Balzan residential development begins
[1]Work begins on a proposed 40-apartment development in Balzan despite an earlier planning rejection.
- 1987
Polidano Brothers Ltd incorporated
[1]The founding construction business is incorporated as Polidano Brothers Ltd in July.
- 1982
Construction business founded
[1]Charles Polidano and Paul Polidano establish a small construction company in Malta.
Products and positioning
A large, diversified Maltese private enterprise centred on construction, infrastructure and property, with complementary hospitality and leisure operations.
Construction services · 1982
Construction and civil engineering
The group's principal line of business covers building construction, civil engineering and major infrastructure works in Malta. Its reported project portfolio includes port, aviation, wastewater, hotel and large property developments. The business grew through mechanisation and investment in construction capacity, becoming one of Malta's largest private construction operators.
Manufacturing
Manufacturing and construction materials
Manufacturing is described as one of the group's areas of activity alongside construction. The supplied material specifically refers to a brick factory connected with the Ħal Farruġ headquarters complex, although it does not provide a complete list of manufactured products or current operating details.
Real estate
Property development
Polidano's property activity includes residential, commercial, hotel and mixed-use development. The group has been associated with prominent Maltese schemes such as Portomaso and Tigné Point, while several other developments became the subject of planning disputes and regularisation proceedings.
Hospitality and entertainment
Hospitality and leisure
The group's hospitality and leisure interests include hotels and the Montekristo Estates complex. Montekristo has been described as incorporating event spaces, entertainment facilities, a zoo, restaurant, winery and olive-oil mill, making it a diversified leisure destination as well as a property holding.
Controversies
2022
Corruption investigation involving Charles and Gordon Polidano
Charles Polidano and Gordon Polidano were arrested on suspicion of corrupting a senior official through a property sale and were released on bail. The supplied material does not state a final judicial outcome.
2020
Reported tax arrears and public-tender concerns
Media reporting stated that Polidano Brothers Ltd owed approximately €30.4 million in unpaid taxes, with further liabilities attributed to other companies linked to Charles Polidano. The reporting also questioned how entities with outstanding tax obligations could participate in public tenders.
Brand decisions
2021
Acceptance of regularisation for Ħal Farruġ headquartersOtherBackground
The headquarters complex and related facilities had been subject to an enforcement notice after development reportedly proceeded without a permit.
Action taken
The Planning Authority regularised the developments against a fine of €32,754.
Aftermath
The long-running enforcement process ended in legalisation, although the episode remained part of scrutiny of the group's planning record.
Regularisation fine. €32,754 (2021)
Sources1 sources
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