Mauritius shapes up

Debbie Hathway • June 15, 2018

Share this article

Demand for residential property surges on this Indian Ocean island

The World Bank’s ranking of Mauritius as the top African country for doing business is the latest accolade boosting activity in the island’s commercial and residential property market.

WORDS: DEBBIE HATHWAY


Mauritius lies 25th out of 190 countries, ahead of SA in 82nd spot. Construction and real estate is the second fastest growing sector on the island, according to the Mauritius Board of Investment (BOI), with a gross domestic product contribution of 10.4% — just 1.6% behind the financial services sector. The trend is set to continue now that foreigners may buy apartments in condominium developments of at least two levels above ground, with BOI approval. The price? Not less than six million Mauritian rupees (about R2.1m), which does not offer the buyer permanent residency.


This option is in addition to the investment opportunities within an already approved Integrated Resort Scheme (IRS) or Real Estate Scheme (RES), both of which have now been replaced by the Property Development Scheme (PDS). This has relieved developers of the obligation to sell at least 25% of residential units to Mauritian citizens or members of the Mauritian diaspora. A minimum investment of $500,000 (about R5.9m) in a PDS allows investors permanent residency.


“Mauritius is getting busier. People are relocating and setting up businesses,” says Pam Golding Properties Mauritius director Richard Haller, who moved there with his family last year. “What drives this is essentially the ease of doing business from Mauritius.


“The government offers several incentives, including a harmonized tax rate of 15%, tax-free dividends and no capital gains tax,” he says. “And the island is just a four-hour flight from Johannesburg.” Pam Golding Commercial is launching in Mauritius this month to help those wishing to establish a business on the island. “There is so much opportunity here it makes sense to offer a commercial solution,” says Haller. The major areas of residential development remain Grand Baie in the north and Black River or Tamarin in the west, which is home to Tamarina Golf and Beach Estate, La Balise Marina and other high-end developments.


Read the rest of this article by clicking HERE


Snorkeler swimming above a coral reef with a rocky island visible above the waterline
By Debbie Hathway December 3, 2024
Debbie Hathway offers expert writing, journalism, & proofreading services. Contact us to elevate your content today!
Aerial view of a lush tropical island with turquoise waters, coastal hills, and coral reefs.
By Debbie Hathway December 23, 2023
Construction starts at Harmonie Golf & Beach Estate, featuring luxury villas & a golf course.
Tropical beach with turquoise water, white sand, palm trees, and resort loungers under a blue sky
By Debbie Hathway November 21, 2022
Words by Debbie Hathway November is a bittersweet time of year. I get the usual yearning to return to Mauritius (my body knows when it’s time to recharge), but it’s also a special time to experience paradise island when the sun coaxes inconceivable shades of blue from the ocean, and the “flamboyant” trees are full of brilliant red flowers. 16 November 2016 was the first time I visited Mauritius in the summer. It was a long weekend break made possible by sponsored flights through Air Mauritius. My mom had been fighting cancer for too long, having beaten it once before, and I needed a boost to get me through the next phase. However, that weekend was the beginning of the end of my mother’s life. Had I known that was imminent, I would never have gone. I was in denial, firmly believing she would turn the corner. I returned to Cape Town that Sunday morning. She passed away that night. My father and I were with her. So, when I get the social media reminders of my time there, those memories come flooding back and with them, the learning. I was at work the day after she passed, sending a magazine to print because there was nobody else to do it. I was retrenched a few weeks later. 
Modern luxury house at dusk with a large cantilevered roof and warm interior lights
By Debbie Hathway November 5, 2022
Learn what buyers seek in writing services. Contact Debbie Hathway for expert writing & proofreading solutions.
Aerial view of a tropical beach resort with turquoise water, a curved shoreline, pool, and palm trees.
By Debbie Hathway June 6, 2021
Join in The Lux Collective’s wellness programme this Global Wellness Day. Follow one of the participating resort’s activities on their IGTV channel and join in if you can! Words by Debbie Hathway ‘ONWARD AND DOWNWARD!’ For veteran marine biologist and oceanographer Dr Sylvia Earle, it’s a motto for life, having dedicated an epic career to underwater exploration and raising awareness around ocean conservation. At 88, she’s a living legend, the first TIME magazine Hero for the Planet, a National Geographic explorer-in-residence and founder of Mission Blue, SEAlliance and DOER Marine (Deep Ocean Exploration and Research). She has led over 100 expeditions, logged over 7 000 hours underwater, authored numerous books and lectured worldwide – and she’s not stopping any time soon. What motivates her to keep going? ‘Reasons for hope.’
Aerial view of a green golf course with water hazards, winding paths, and buildings under a blue cloudy sky
By Debbie Hathway January 24, 2020
Learn what defines successful residential estates, focusing on luxury, security, & education. Contact us for insights!