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10 storiesupdated 7 July 20262026-09-18T07:55:04.361Z

Croatia property market — Photo · Croatia WeekSource ↗

News7 July 20263 min read

Property sales down 42%, yet prices keep rising — expert explains what's happening in Croatia

Property sales in Croatia dropped 42% in a year while prices rose 14%. An expert explains the supply shortage and investment demand driving the market.

Property sales in Croatia have fallen by 42% over the past year, despite residential prices continuing to rise, highlighting the contrasting trends shaping the housing market. According to the latest figures, home prices increased by 14% over the same period — almost three times the EU average of around 5%.

Speaking to RTL Danas, Dubravko Ranilović, president of the Real Estate Business Association at the Croatian Chamber of Economy (HGK), said the decline is not new, with turnover falling for the fourth consecutive year. He pointed to high prices, limited supply and a large number of vacant homes that remain outside the market. Recent government measures on affordability aim to address the shortage of available properties.

Despite weaker sales, prices keep climbing because residential property remains an attractive investment. Ranilović said relatively low interest rates combined with persistent inflation have pushed many buyers to purchase homes as an investment rather than purely for housing needs, while the lack of available housing continues to support prices.

Ranilović does not believe Croatia faces a market collapse like the one after the 2008 crisis, saying conditions are different today, though some price corrections are likely — especially as owners who must sell for personal reasons enter the market. He noted that fewer than one-third of advertised properties are ultimately sold, suggesting many homes are listed at unrealistic prices.

Source: Croatia Week

Saralee's Thai Street Food Zagreb — Photo · Croatia WeekSource ↗

News7 July 20262 min read

Popular Thai street food favourite opens new spot in central Zagreb

Popular Saralee's Thai Street Food has opened a new restaurant at Skalinska 3 in central Zagreb, serving authentic Thai dishes after closing its kiosk.

One of Zagreb's best-known street food destinations has entered a new chapter, with Saralee's Thai Street Food opening a new restaurant in the heart of the Croatian capital. After closing its popular kiosk at the end of April following five successful years, owner and Thai chef Saralee Madnui has welcomed customers to the new premises at Skalinska 3 in central Zagreb.

Since first opening, Saralee's Thai Street Food has built a loyal following thanks to its authentic Thai cuisine, generous portions, affordable prices and consistently high-quality dishes. Chef Saralee, who previously operated Khaos Thai, has earned a strong reputation for serving some of the most authentic Thai food in Zagreb.

The new restaurant continues to offer a broad selection of traditional Thai dishes, including soups, spring rolls, green and massaman curries, wok dishes, pad Thai, tom yum, fried rice and a variety of stir-fries. The quality has also received international recognition, with a recommendation from the Gault&Millau guide.

The opening marks a fresh start for one of Zagreb's most popular Thai eateries, bringing its well-known menu to a new city centre location.

Source: Croatia Week

FIFA VAR petition Croatia — Photo · Croatia WeekSource ↗

News7 July 20263 min read

New FIFA transparency petition passes 3,500 signatures after Croatia's controversial World Cup exit

A Change.org petition demanding FIFA release VAR audio and sensor data behind Croatia's disallowed goal against Portugal has passed 3,500 signatures.

A recently launched Change.org petition aimed at compelling FIFA to reveal all technical information regarding Croatia's elimination from the World Cup has collected over 3,500 signatures. It comes after the Croatian Football Federation (HNS) sent an official protest letter to FIFA over the disallowed stoppage-time goal by Joško Gvardiol against Portugal, ruled out for an alleged offside involving Igor Matanović.

Rather than challenging the verdict itself, the petition asks for full disclosure around one of the tournament's most controversial VAR calls. Organisers want FIFA to release the VAR audio, ball-connected sensor data, the signal chart and spike, precise timing, synchronised video, offside calibration using semi-automated technology, player-tracking data and the complete technical justification behind denying the goal.

The petition argues that if technology is good enough to decide the winner of a World Cup match, the supporting evidence should be open to independent scrutiny by engineers, referees, players and fans. A similar demand was heard from Belgium fans after FIFA's controversial reversal of the suspension of US striker Folarin Balogun.

Many supporters are unconvinced by the broadcast footage in the public domain, saying there is no visible change in the ball's speed, direction or movement suggesting it was touched before reaching Mario Pašalić. The campaign calls on FIFA to explain how the connected-ball technology detected the touch. Supporters can sign the petition on Change.org.

Source: Croatia Week

Vera C. Rubin Observatory — Photo · Croatia WeekSource ↗

News6 July 20263 min read

Croatian scientist leading world's largest astronomy survey as Rubin Observatory begins 10-year mission

The Vera C. Rubin Observatory has begun its 10-year sky survey led by Croatian scientist Željko Ivezić, set to map 40 billion celestial objects.

The Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile has begun the world's largest astronomical imaging survey after more than two decades of development, launching the 10-year Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST), led by Croatian scientist Željko Ivezić. Since 2021, academician Ivezić has been Director of Construction at the observatory, having previously served as Deputy Director and Project Scientist.

Located on Cerro Pachón in northern Chile, the observatory will image the entire southern sky every few nights over the next decade, producing the most comprehensive and detailed survey of the universe ever undertaken, the University of Rijeka's Faculty of Physics said. The project is expected to generate the largest astronomical database ever assembled, with information on around 40 billion celestial objects, made available to scientists worldwide and to the public.

Ivezić, an adjunct professor at the University of Rijeka's Faculty of Physics and a corresponding member of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts (HAZU), said the survey began only after extensive system optimisation, technical testing, data-processing verification and scientific validation.

Croatian astrophysicists are also involved through research groups at the University of Rijeka, the Ruđer Bošković Institute, the University of Zagreb and the Hvar Observatory. The "Bura" supercomputer at the University of Rijeka's Centre for Advanced Computing and Modelling is one of 13 international computing centres in the project, dedicated exclusively to data analysis.

Source: Croatia Week

Croatia gender pension gap — Photo · Croatia WeekSource ↗

News6 July 20263 min read

Croatia records EU's largest reduction in gender pension gap since 2020

Croatia recorded the EU's largest fall in the gender pension gap since 2020, down to 19.3% after pension credits for parents.

Croatia has achieved the largest reduction in the gender pension gap among EU member states, with the gap narrowing by 11 percentage points since 2020, the government has said. The improvement is largely attributed to credited pension service for parents.

The figures were set out in the government's opinion on the 2025 annual report by Gender Equality Ombudswoman Višnja Ljubičić, who stressed that a gap still exists and called for further measures. Credited pension service of six months per child, introduced through amendments to the Pension Insurance Act in 2019, has had a positive effect over the period it has been in force.

According to Eurostat, the gender pension gap in Croatia stood at 19.3% in 2024, down from 30.4% in 2020 and well below the EU average of 24.5%. Amendments adopted in 2025 doubled the credited service to 12 months per biological or adopted child. The government estimates around 27,000 pension recipients will qualify for the 12-month credit by the end of 2026, giving an average pension increase of 3% per child.

On employment, the government said registered unemployment fell 14.8% compared with 2024, with the number of unemployed women down 18.6% and unemployed men down 10%. The ombudswoman's report, submitted to parliament, covers employment, pensions, gender-based violence, demographic policy and other areas.

Source: Croatia Week