Infrastructure that supports international ambitions
The appeal of Mauritius does not rest solely on its taxation and legal framework. The country has invested heavily in its physical and digital infrastructure to offer a work and living environment of international standard. From cutting-edge telecommunications to modern business districts, a well-served international airport, a robust banking system and quality healthcare and education services, Mauritius has everything needed to welcome the most demanding businesses and professionals.
This quality infrastructure is a determining factor for the economic substance of Global Business companies — the FSC requires that GBCs have premises, staff and genuine management infrastructure in Mauritius. Company domiciliation is made easier by the quality of the available business districts. Our outsourcing services allow these substance requirements to be fully satisfied.
Telecommunications and digital connectivity
Mauritius has made digital connectivity a national priority, investing in submarine cables, domestic fibre optic and mobile networks to offer leading ICT infrastructure in Africa.
Internet infrastructure
| Infrastructure | Detail | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Submarine cables | SAFE (South Africa-India), LION/LION2 (Madagascar-Réunion), METISS (Réunion-South Africa) | Guaranteed redundancy, capacity of several Tbps |
| Residential fibre optic | Deployed by Mauritius Telecom (My.T) in 90%+ of areas | 30-100 Mbps standard, 200 Mbps available |
| Business fibre optic | Dedicated links via Mauritius Telecom, Emtel Business, MTML | Up to 1 Gbps symmetrical, guaranteed SLAs |
| 4G coverage | Mauritius Telecom, Emtel, MTML | 99% of the territory, speeds of 20-50 Mbps |
| 5G | Progressive rollout under way | Main urban areas covered by 2025-2026 |
| Monthly cost (residential fibre) | EUR 30-60 for 30-100 Mbps | Competitive versus Europe and Asia |
| Monthly cost (business fibre) | EUR 100-500 for 100 Mbps-1 Gbps | Significantly lower than Singapore/Hong Kong |
Data centres and cloud
Mauritius has several international-standard data centres, essential for financial and technology sector businesses:
- Mauritius Telecom Data Centre — Tier III Uptime Institute certified, colocation, private and public cloud, disaster recovery services
- BIRGER — Premium data centre at the Mauritius Telecom Tower, ISO 27001 certified, specialising in financial services
- Ameyzee — Cloud and hosting services specialised for the financial sector and fintechs
- Microsoft Azure / AWS — Points of presence via the submarine cables, acceptable latency for cloud applications
Business districts and commercial real estate
Mauritius has several modern business districts offering international-standard offices, high-speed connectivity and a professional working environment.
| Area | Specialisation | Office rent (USD/sqm/month) | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ebene Cybercity | IT, BPO, Global Business, finance | 10-20 | 50+ buildings, main hub for Management Companies, fibre optic, restaurants, parking |
| Moka Smart City | Mixed (offices, residential, retail, leisure) | 12-25 | Integrated smart city, premium offices, green spaces, Bagatelle shopping complex |
| Port Louis CBD | Banks, insurers, head offices, government | 8-18 | Historic centre, near the courts and ministries, Caudan Waterfront |
| Freeport (airport) | Logistics, manufacturing, import-export | 5-12 | Free zone, tax advantages for export operations, modern warehouses |
| Port Franc (port) | Maritime trade, warehousing, transshipment | 5-10 | Port Louis harbour, transshipment hub for East Africa |
| Trou aux Biches / Grand Baie | Coastal offices, coworking | 8-15 | Premium living environment, popular among expatriates, coworking spaces |
Coworking and flexible offices: Mauritius has a growing coworking ecosystem suited to startups, freelancers and small teams: Turbine (Moka), The Hive, Office Plus, Regus and others. Rates start at EUR 150-300/month for a hot desk and EUR 300-600/month for a dedicated office — a fraction of the costs in Singapore or Dubai.
Transport and connectivity
SSR international airport
The Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam (MRU) international airport is a modern, recently renovated airport, offering direct connectivity to the world's leading business destinations.
Europe
Paris CDG — Air Mauritius, Air France (11h, daily). London Heathrow/Gatwick — British Airways, Air Mauritius (12h). Frankfurt — Condor (seasonal). Geneva — Edelweiss (seasonal). Istanbul — Turkish Airlines (10h, worldwide connections).
Africa
Johannesburg — Air Mauritius, SA Airways (4h, daily). Nairobi — Kenya Airways (4h30). Antananarivo — Air Mauritius (2h). Dar es Salaam — via Nairobi/Johannesburg. Maputo — via Johannesburg.
India and Asia
Mumbai — Air Mauritius (6h). Delhi — Air India (7h). Chennai — IndiGo (5h30). Singapore — Singapore Airlines (8h). Kuala Lumpur — Air Mauritius (8h30).
Middle East
Dubai — Emirates, flydubai (6h, daily). Worldwide connections via the Emirates hub (260+ destinations). Doha — Via Dubai. Access to the Gulf and Middle East markets with one stopover.
Land transport
- M1 motorway — Links the north (Grand Baie) to the south (airport) in 45 minutes, crossing Ebene and the main business districts
- Metro Express — Modern tramway opened in 2019: Curepipe - Quatre Bornes - Rose Hill - Port Louis line (26 km), extensions planned towards Réduit and Côte d'Or
- Road network — 2,000+ km of paved roads in good condition, well-maintained A-roads (national roads)
- Left-hand driving — British heritage, requiring an adjustment for continental Europeans
- Car rental — From EUR 400-600/month, or a used car purchase from EUR 5,000-10,000
Banking and financial system
The Mauritian banking system is one of the most developed in Africa, regulated by the Bank of Mauritius (BoM) and comprising more than 20 banks offering a full range of services.
| Bank | Type | Key services | Specialisation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MCB (Mauritius Commercial Bank) | Local (leading bank on the island) | Retail, corporate, GBC, wealth management | Local leader, regional presence in Africa |
| SBM (State Bank of Mauritius) | Local (state) | Retail, corporate, international | Presence in India (SBM Bank India) |
| AfrAsia Bank | Local (private banking) | GBC, private banking, Africa | Specialist in Global Business and Africa |
| HSBC | International | Corporate, GBC, custody | Trade finance, treasury, services for multinationals |
| Standard Chartered | International | Corporate, trade finance, FX | Africa and Asia expertise, structured finance |
| Absa (formerly Barclays) | International (South Africa) | Corporate, Africa, custody | Pan-African network, custody and fund services |
| Investec | International (South Africa) | Private banking, wealth, corporate | HNWIs, entrepreneurs, African investors |
| BCP Bank | International (Morocco) | Retail, corporate | French-speaking Africa network via the BCP group |
Multi-currency accounts: Mauritian banks offer multi-currency accounts (USD, EUR, GBP, INR, ZAR, AED and others) with competitive exchange facilities. International SWIFT transfers are processed efficiently (1-3 business days). Online banking and mobile apps are available from all major banks. Account opening for a GBC typically takes 2-4 weeks with complete KYC documentation.
Education
Mauritius offers a diverse education system meeting the needs of expatriate families, with establishments following French, British and international curricula.
French schools (AEFE)
Lycée La Bourdonnais and Lycée des Mascareignes: French curriculum from nursery to the baccalauréat, accredited by the French Ministry of National Education. Teaching in French, French baccalauréat recognised worldwide. Fees: EUR 3,000-7,000/year.
British schools
Northfields International High School, Le Bocage International School, Clavis International Primary School: Cambridge curriculum (IGCSE, AS-Level, A-Level). Teaching in English with language options. Fees: EUR 5,000-12,000/year.
International schools (IB)
International Baccalaureate programmes (PYP, MYP, DP) available at several establishments. Le Bocage offers the IB Diploma programme. Multilingual teaching, worldwide recognition. Fees: EUR 8,000-15,000/year.
Universities
University of Mauritius (UoM): public institution offering degrees in law, finance, IT and engineering. Campuses of Middlesex University (London), Curtin University (Australia) and other international universities offering recognised degrees. Fees: EUR 3,000-10,000/year.
Healthcare
The Mauritian healthcare system combines a free public network with international-standard private clinics.
| Type of establishment | Examples | Standard | Indicative cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public hospitals | SSRN Hospital, Victoria Hospital, Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital | Decent, free for everyone | Free (publicly funded) |
| Premium private clinics | Wellkin Hospital, C-Care (Darné, Clinique du Nord) | International standard, modern equipment | Consultation: EUR 30-80; hospitalisation: EUR 200-500/day |
| Specialists | Cardiology, orthopaedics, oncology, paediatrics | Doctors trained in France, UK, India, South Africa | Specialist consultation: EUR 40-100 |
| Dental | Numerous private practices | Good standard, modern equipment | 50-70% cheaper than in Europe |
| Medical evacuation | To South Africa, India or France | Available for complex cases | Covered by international insurance |
Health insurance: Expatriates generally take out international health insurance (Cigna, Allianz, Bupa, April International) covering care in Mauritius and abroad. Annual premiums range from EUR 1,500 to 5,000 per person depending on age and level of cover. Employers often cover insurance as part of expatriation packages.
Energy and sustainable development
- Access to electricity — 99% of households, reliable grid in urban and business areas
- Current energy mix — Coal, heavy fuel oil, biomass (sugar-cane bagasse), hydro, solar, wind
- 2030 target — 60% renewable energy (vs ~25% currently), in line with climate commitments
- Solar photovoltaic — Growing strongly, with residential and commercial installations encouraged by feed-in tariffs
- Drinking water — Universal access, distribution sometimes irregular in certain rural areas during the dry season
- Waste management — Collection and treatment systems constantly improving, recycling under development
Security and living environment
Mauritius is the safest country in Africa and ranks among the top 30 in the world according to the Global Peace Index. Violent crime is very low and the living environment is exceptional for expatriates and their families.
| Indicator | Ranking / Score | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Global Peace Index (Africa) | 1st | Most peaceful country on the continent |
| Global Peace Index (world) | Top 30 | Among the 30 safest countries in the world |
| Freedom House | 85/100 — "Free" | Functioning democracy, guaranteed freedoms |
| Violent crime | Very low | Comparable to Western Europe |
| Natural hazards | Cyclones (rare, Dec-Mar season), no seismicity | Buildings constructed to cyclone-resistant standards |
| Bilingualism | French + English | Both languages are used daily and in business |
Cost of living
Mauritius offers a significantly lower cost of living than competing financial centres, while maintaining a high standard of living.
| Expense item | Mauritius (EUR/month) | Singapore (EUR/month) | Dubai (EUR/month) | Luxembourg (EUR/month) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2-bedroom apartment rent (city centre) | 600-1,200 | 2,500-4,500 | 1,800-3,500 | 1,800-3,000 |
| 3-bedroom villa rent (residential) | 1,000-2,500 | 5,000-10,000 | 3,000-6,000 | 3,000-5,000 |
| Restaurant (meal for 2, mid-range) | 25-50 | 60-120 | 80-150 | 70-120 |
| Supermarket (family groceries) | 400-700 | 800-1,500 | 600-1,200 | 600-1,000 |
| School fees (international school/year) | 3,000-12,000 | 15,000-35,000 | 10,000-25,000 | 8,000-20,000 |
| Domestic help (full-time) | 250-400 | 500-800 | 800-1,500 | Not common |
Real estate: purchase options for foreigners
Non-citizens can acquire property in Mauritius under regulated schemes, with the possibility of obtaining a residence permit for acquisitions exceeding USD 375,000.
PDS (Property Development Scheme)
Main programme for foreigners. Luxury villas and apartments in secure residences. Prices from USD 375,000 (threshold for the residence permit). Coastal and inland projects, often with golf, spa, private beach. The best known: Anahita, Mont Choisy, Cap Tamarin, Heritage Villas.
Smart City Scheme
Purchase within developed Smart Cities (Moka Smart City, Cap Tamarin Smart & Happy Village, Mon Trésor). Apartments and villas in integrated urban environments. Variable prices, residence permit if ≥ USD 375,000. Mixed use: offices, retail, leisure, residential.
Ground+2 (apartments)
Foreigners can buy an apartment in a building of at least 2 floors above ground level, from USD 375,000 (for the residence permit). More accessible than the PDS, with options in town and by the sea.
Rental yields
Gross rental yields range between 4% and 7% depending on location and property type. Touristic coastal areas (Grand Baie, Flic en Flac, Tamarin) offer the best yields thanks to seasonal rental. No capital gains tax on resale.
Our support
Beyond company formation and tax structuring, our firm supports entrepreneurs and expatriates in settling in Mauritius:
- Office search — Identifying premises suited to your needs (Ebene, Moka, Port Louis, Grand Baie)
- Bank account opening — Coordination with banks for opening personal and corporate accounts
- Residence permits — Occupation Permit (OP), Premium Visa, Permanent Residence Permit (PRP)
- Real estate — Introductions to estate agents for renting or buying
- Schooling — Information on schools and support with enrolment
- Administrative services — Driving licence, insurance, telecommunications
Discover Mauritius for yourself
Come and see the quality of life and infrastructure of Mauritius during an exploratory trip. Our team organises your visit programme: offices, schools, residential neighbourhoods, meetings with expatriates and local professionals. See our guide on daily life in Mauritius to picture your future living environment.