Construction World April 2022

PROJECTS

LARGEST LUXURY RESORT IN EAST AFRICA UNDER CONSTRUCTION

A significant new luxury, mixed-use seaside resort development has been launched in Zanzibar which, when completed, will be the biggest of its kind in East Africa.

B lue Amber, which nestles along four kilometres of magnificent, untouched Indian Ocean coastline – occupying 410 hectares of tropical landscape on the north- eastern side of Zanzibar, incorporates residential, hotel, tourism, community and public amenities that will include luxury villas to purchase. Featuring multiple hotels, luxury residences, and East Africa's first 18-hole Signature golf course, Blue Amber will boast a mini-Stone-Town with retail space on the ground floor and 22 two-bedroom apartments above, as well as sports facilities such as a football pitch, tennis courts, squash courts, beach volleyball courts, basketball courts, archery, and a skateboard park. The retail amenities within the resort will include a mini supermarket, outdoor- indoor- and beachfront restaurants with rooftop bars, a gym, liquor store, sports bar, health and beauty store, bike rental store, hairdressers and laundry services – to name but a few. Once completed, Blue Amber will also contain an impressive shoreline aqua leisure centre offering a comprehensive water sports facility. South Africans can own property within the Blue Amber development Thanks to its immense size, Blue Amber Zanzibar will be the largest luxury property development in East Africa, and is the very first to offer South Africans the opportunity to buy property on the island.

Zanzibar only opened its doors to non-Tanzanian resident investors recently when the government announced a new tax and residency program and so now, for the first time in history, non-Tanzanian residents can invest in property on the tropical island. The Blue Amber resort enables non- Tanzanian residents to buy residential property in Zanzibar on 99-year leases with the option to extend ownership by 49 years. Construction of the first villa residences at Blue Amber is currently underway (with completion scheduled for early to mid-2023) and 54 luxury villas are available to purchase, with prices starting from USD197 125 (approx. R3 million depending on exchange rates) for a 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom unit with a roof-top terrace, or from $319 USD for a double- storey 3-bedroom, 3-bathroom villa. The development also offers 4 and 5 bedroomed homes. Grant Anderson, CEO of Blue Amber explains that buyers receive a host of tax benefits when purchasing within the Blue Amber development and also receive residency permits for themselves as well as their immediate family. “Blue Amber is recognised as a Strategic Investment Project, which allows property owners to gain significant tax benefits – such as a 15% tax rate on local income earned, no tax on worldwide income, and no capital gains tax, stamp duty or inheritance tax on properties purchased. Additionally, buyers, together with their spouses and their children under the age of 20 are eligible for residence permits lasting the duration of their ownership of a property and there is no minimum amount of time that must be spent in the country to qualify.” “For South Africans, there are many reasons to look at buying property at Blue Amber. A key factor is that Zanzibar is safe and stable – politically, socially, and economically. It is a short flight from South Africa and visas are not required. The pricing of the villas also makes them an attractive option for South Africans working in rands. Added to all of this are the many tax breaks, the residency scheme, and the potential rental return on your property investment, which can be placed back into a rental pool when not occupied by the owner – earning an attractive return on investment,” advises Anderson. 

38 CONSTRUCTION WORLD APRIL 2022