Smart City Properties in Mauritius — Technology Meets Tropical Living

Smart City property in Mauritius represents the island's most forward-looking residential proposition — master-planned urban communities integrating fibre connectivity, co-working spaces, international schools, medical facilities, and commercial zones within walkable neighbourhoods. Approved under the Smart City Scheme by the Economic Development Board (EDB), these developments offer foreign buyers freehold ownership, permanent residency eligibility, and a lifestyle that blends tropical living with modern urban convenience.

Unlike coastal PDS estates focused on resort amenities and beach access, Smart Cities target buyers seeking daily urban infrastructure — schools, hospitals, shopping, dining, and employment hubs — without sacrificing Mauritius's natural environment. The scheme has attracted major developers including ENL (Moka Smart City), Trimetys (Cap Tamarin), and international partners building integrated townships across the island.

Stone Investment advises international buyers on Smart City acquisitions across Mauritius. This guide explains the scheme, profiles the leading developments, and compares Smart City living with traditional PDS coastal property.

The Smart City Scheme is an EDB-approved framework designed to create integrated urban developments that combine residential, commercial, educational, and recreational land uses within a single master-planned community.

**EDB approval** — Each Smart City requires Economic Development Board certification confirming the development meets prescribed criteria for infrastructure, sustainability, mixed-use planning, and economic contribution. EDB approval grants foreign buyers the same freehold ownership rights as PDS schemes.

**Minimum investment for residency** — Foreign buyers investing **USD 375,000 or more** in an approved Smart City property qualify for a **permanent residence permit**. This threshold matches the PDS minimum and applies to apartments, villas, and commercial units within certified developments.

**Mixed-use requirement** — Smart Cities must integrate residential with commercial, educational, and healthcare components. This distinguishes them from pure residential estates — Smart City owners live within walking distance of offices, shops, schools, and medical facilities.

**Technology infrastructure** — Fibre-to-premises connectivity, smart grid systems, and digital governance platforms are mandated components. Smart City residents benefit from reliable high-speed internet essential for remote working.

**Sustainability standards** — Developments must incorporate green building principles, renewable energy integration, water management systems, and public green spaces meeting EDB sustainability benchmarks.

**Moka Smart City** is Mauritius's largest and most established Smart City development, located in Moka in the central plateau — 15 minutes from Port Louis and 30 minutes from the north and west coasts.

**Uniciti** is the residential and educational heart — a 350-hectare campus-style community centred on Middlesex University Mauritius, Mahatma Gandhi Institute campuses, and a growing residential inventory of apartments, townhouses, and villas. Uniciti offers a university-town atmosphere with student accommodation, faculty housing, and family residences alongside academic institutions.

**Vivéa Business Park** provides the commercial anchor — 150 hectares of office space, co-working facilities, and corporate headquarters hosting international companies benefiting from Smart City tax incentives. Major tenants include financial services firms, IT companies, and professional services groups.

**Helvétia** extends the Smart City westward with additional residential zones, a medical hub, and retail precincts. The Helvétia Life Care medical facility provides private healthcare within the Smart City boundary.

Moka Smart City appeals to families prioritising education, professionals working within Vivéa, and investors seeking capital growth driven by ongoing infrastructure expansion. Property prices range from **USD 250,000** for studio apartments to **USD 1.5 million** for premium villas.

**Cap Tamarin Smart City** offers a contrasting Smart City proposition on the west coast in Tamarin — combining Smart City scheme benefits with coastal proximity, beach access, and the lifestyle appeal of the Black River district.

Developed by Trimetys, Cap Tamarin integrates residential apartments and villas with commercial zones, a village centre with restaurants and shops, co-working spaces, and sports facilities. The development sits minutes from Tamarin Bay surf breaks, La Balise Marina, and the premium PDS estates of Tamarina Golf Estate.

Cap Tamarin attracts buyers who want Smart City infrastructure — fibre connectivity, walkable amenities, modern architecture — without relocating to the central plateau. The west coast location provides immediate access to beaches, golf, and the outdoor lifestyle that defines Mauritian living.

Pricing is competitive within the Smart City segment — apartments from approximately **USD 350,000**, villas from **USD 600,000**, and penthouses from **USD 600,000**. The development has shown strong capital appreciation since launch, driven by west coast demand and limited new supply.

Explore Cap Tamarin properties in our current portfolio.

Smart City developments in Mauritius share a common infrastructure toolkit that distinguishes them from conventional residential estates.

**Fibre connectivity** — Gigabit fibre-to-premises is standard across Smart City developments, providing reliable high-speed internet for remote working, streaming, and smart home systems. This infrastructure advantage is increasingly decisive for international buyers.

**Co-working spaces** — Dedicated co-working facilities within Smart City commercial zones serve resident entrepreneurs, remote workers, and small businesses. Vivéa Business Park and Cap Tamarin village centre both offer flexible workspace options.

**International schools** — Moka Smart City hosts Middlesex University Mauritius and multiple primary and secondary schools including the Northfields International School and Ecole du Centre. Families relocating to Mauritius find education infrastructure within the Smart City boundary.

**Healthcare** — Helvétia Life Care in Moka and planned medical facilities in Cap Tamarin provide private healthcare access. The Smart City model integrates medical services that coastal estates typically lack.

**Commercial zones** — Supermarkets, restaurants, retail boutiques, and service providers operate within Smart City precincts, reducing dependence on car travel for daily needs.

**Green spaces and sports** — Parks, jogging trails, cycling paths, tennis courts, and fitness centres are integrated into Smart City master plans, supporting active lifestyle within the urban environment.

Foreign buyers often evaluate Smart City and PDS schemes side by side. Each offers freehold ownership and residency at USD 375,000, but the lifestyle propositions differ significantly.

The Smart City Scheme offers tax incentives that extend beyond property ownership to companies operating within certified developments — creating employment hubs that support residential demand.

**Corporate tax benefits** — Companies established within Smart City zones benefit from reduced corporate tax rates and accelerated depreciation on capital expenditure. These incentives attract international firms establishing regional headquarters in Mauritius.

**Employment generation** — Smart City certification requires demonstrable job creation, ensuring that residential developments are supported by local employment. Vivéa Business Park alone hosts thousands of employees who drive rental demand for nearby residential units.

**Personal tax environment** — Mauritius maintains no capital gains tax, no inheritance tax, and a flat 15% personal income tax rate. Smart City property owners benefit from this favourable personal tax framework regardless of scheme type.

**Double taxation treaties** — Mauritius's extensive network of double taxation avoidance agreements benefits Smart City residents earning income from abroad or operating businesses within the zone.

**Property tax** — Annual property tax (land transfer tax on purchase and municipal rates) remains modest by international standards. Budget approximately 1% of property value across acquisition taxes and annual rates combined.

For comprehensive tax guidance, see our Mauritius tax benefits guide.

Choosing a Smart City property involves accepting a different daily rhythm from coastal PDS living — one centred on convenience, community, and connectivity rather than beach and resort amenities.

**Moka Smart City daily life** — Residents walk or cycle to cafés, supermarkets, and schools. The central plateau's cooler climate (2–4°C below coastal temperatures) suits outdoor activity year-round. Evening dining at Uniciti restaurants and weekend golf at nearby courses define the social calendar.

**Cap Tamarin daily life** — A hybrid proposition — Smart City walkability with west coast beach access minutes away. Morning surf at Tamarin Bay, afternoon co-working at the village centre, sunset dining overlooking the marina. This blend attracts buyers unwilling to choose between urban and coastal.

**Community profile** — Smart City residents skew younger and more professionally active than coastal estate owners. Expatriate families, remote-working professionals, and Mauritian professionals employed at Vivéa form the core community.

**Transport** — Smart Cities are car-dependent for inter-city travel but designed for walkability within the development. Moka connects to the motorway network providing 20-minute access to Port Louis and 30 minutes to Grand Baie. Cap Tamarin offers direct west coast access without plateau commuting.

**Trade-offs** — Smart City owners sacrifice immediate beach access (except Cap Tamarin) and resort-style amenities for daily urban convenience. For buyers whose priority is schools, healthcare, and walkable daily life, this is an advantageous exchange.

Smart City developments offer diverse property types at price points below typical coastal PDS entry levels.

**Studios and one-bedroom apartments** — Entry-level Smart City inventory from **USD 250,000–350,000**. Compact units targeting young professionals, students, and investor-buyers seeking rental income from Vivéa employees and university tenants.

**Two- and three-bedroom apartments** — The core Smart City product from **USD 350,000–700,000**. Family-sized units with modern specifications, balcony or terrace, and access to building amenities including pools and gyms.

**Townhouses** — Multi-level family homes from **USD 500,000–900,000** offering garden space and privacy within the Smart City environment. Popular with relocating families.

**Villas** — Premium Smart City villas from **USD 750,000–1.5 million** with private pools and gardens. Cap Tamarin and Moka both offer villa inventory at prices below equivalent coastal PDS properties.

**Commercial units** — Ground-floor retail and office space within Smart City commercial zones, available to investors seeking commercial rental income alongside residential holdings.

Browse Smart City properties for sale across Moka and Cap Tamarin.

Mauritius continues to expand its Smart City portfolio with new developments at various stages of planning and construction.

**Beau Plan Smart City** — A developing Smart City in the north near Pamplemousses, integrating residential, commercial, and leisure components including the Beau Plan Sugar Estate heritage tourism attraction. Early-stage residential inventory emerging at competitive price points.

**Mon Trésor Smart City** — Located near the airport in the south-east, leveraging proximity to Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport for logistics, business travel, and expatriate housing demand.

**Jin Fei Smart City** — A Sino-Mauritian development in Riche Terre combining commercial, logistics, and residential components, targeting Chinese and Asian investor interest.

**Existing expansion** — Moka Smart City continues phased expansion with new residential phases, additional Vivéa office space, and enhanced retail precincts. Cap Tamarin adds new apartment blocks and commercial zones with each development phase.

**Investment implication** — Early buyers in established Smart Cities (Moka, Cap Tamarin) have benefited from infrastructure maturation driving capital growth. New pipeline developments offer entry at lower price points but carry construction-phase risk. Established Smart Cities provide completed infrastructure and proven rental markets.

Stone Investment monitors the Smart City pipeline and advises buyers on timing, developer track record, and phase selection within each development.

The purchase process for Smart City property mirrors PDS acquisitions with scheme-specific considerations.

**Verify EDB certification** — Confirm the specific development and phase holds current Smart City Scheme certification. Only certified phases grant foreign buyers freehold ownership and residency eligibility.

**Due diligence** — Engage a Mauritian notary and legal adviser to review title, developer agreements, service charge projections, and building specifications. For off-plan purchases, review construction contracts and payment milestone schedules.

**Financing** — Mauritian banks offer mortgage products to foreign buyers with typical LTV ratios of 50–70%. Smart City apartments at lower price points may qualify for more favourable lending terms than premium coastal villas.

**Residency application** — Upon completion, apply for permanent residence through the EDB with proof of USD 375,000+ investment. Processing typically takes two to four months.

For step-by-step guidance, see our foreign buyer guide and PDS scheme guide — the residency and ownership frameworks are closely aligned.

Smart City property in Mauritius offers a compelling proposition for buyers seeking modern infrastructure, urban convenience, and freehold ownership within an EDB-approved framework. Whether you prioritise Moka's educational and commercial hub or Cap Tamarin's west coast hybrid lifestyle, Stone Investment provides expert guidance across the Smart City landscape.

Our advisers understand the nuances of each development, phase, and property type — helping you identify the Smart City address that aligns with your lifestyle, investment, and residency objectives.

Browse our Smart City properties for sale or contact Stone Investment for a private consultation on technology-enabled tropical living in Mauritius.