“Zanzibar is a unique brand”

New generation reshaping the island – Transparency builds trust

Zanzibar is a brand, no longer an undiscovered paradise. But is the island heading in the right direction? Two leading experts from tourism and real estate discuss.

Zanzibar is transforming at extraordinary speed. Luxury residences rise where palm groves once stood. Tourist arrivals are nearing one million annually. Roads are expanding rapidly. Yet alongside the optimism lies a growing question: can the island modernise without losing itself?

In a candid and often entertaining conversation with THE FUMBA TIMES, Suleiman Mohammed, 54, Chairman of the Zanzibar Association of Tourism Investors (ZATI) and of  the Commision on Tourism, and corporate lawyer Masoud Salim, 43, advisor to the new Real Estate Developers Association (REDA), reflect on investment, governance, culture and the future of Zanzibar.

THE FUMBA TIMES: Gentlemen, if you had to rate Zanzibar today on a scale of 1 to 10, where would you place it?

Suleiman Mohammed: In tourism, I would place Zanzibar at a nine heading towards ten. The progress over the last five years has been remarkable. We are moving very fast. But development is not only about numbers. We must also ask ourselves what kind of Zanzibar we want to become.

Masoud Salim: I would give Zanzibar a solid seven from a real estate and investment perspective. The trajectory is very strong and all signs show we are heading in the right direction. But there are still gaps. Zanzibar’s potential is bigger than the regulatory space, and bigger than the existing infrastructure. The regulatory environment struggles to keep up with the speed of development.

You immediately brought up culture. Is that where you feel Zanzibar is most vulnerable?

Suleiman Mohammed: Absolutely. Our culture is becoming fragile. I was born and bred in the Bwawani area. I put Zanzibar first before anything else in this world. But heritage is not only old buildings. Heritage is also people, traditions, language and identity. Tourism should never erase the soul of the island.

Are you surprised by the speed of change?

Masoud Salim: Yes, even those of us inside the industry are surprised sometimes. Everywhere you turn there is another development project. Luxury villas, branded residences, mixed-use developments, hotels. The property market has expanded tremendously in the last five years.

Condominiums are booming – holiday residences with special benefits. How many do we have on the island?

Masoud Salim: Good question. Access to reliable statistics remains a challenge. Depending on who you speak to, there are a about 100 approved condominium projects at different stages. What we do know though is that property values have risen significantly by 40 to 60 percent over the last five years.

Despite all the growth, there is confusion around ownership laws…

Masoud Salim: I once had a client tell me: “I own property in Malaysia, London and Dubai. I understand my rights there. But in Zanzibar, I don’t know my rights.” And this was someone originally from Zanzibar. Access to information is a major issue. Transparency builds investor confidence.

Suleiman Mohammed: I see it the same way. A jungle of bureaucracy often hinders quick solutions. For example, my wife is Dutch, our son lives in the diaspora in the Netherlands; just to work here in Zanzibar is a big problem for him.

Masoud Salim: On the other hand, there has been probably more progress in the last five years than in the 50 years before. I am happy about the generational change. Many of our professionals, politicians and entrepreneurs are in their forties today. We get a response to our suggestions and action! You can finally really feel the new generation.

Sustainability is a word everybody uses now. What does it mean to you?

Suleiman Mohammed: For me it means action, not slogans. My company, Chaco Zanzibar, works on upcycling and recycling waste from the tourism industry. We recycle more than 3.6 million bottles per year. It is not only environmental protection. It is economic empowerment. We want people to build livelihoods with recycling jobs.

From the beaches to town – which projects stand out for you?

Masoud Salim: You cannot discuss Zanzibar real estate without mentioning Fumba Town. The pioneer project has opened up the island, and others followed. Now you have ultra-luxury developments like Anantara and a new wave of branded residences. Ambitious projects in Stone Town and Maisara. Where exactly is our CBD, I was asking myself the other day, our central business district? Is it Darajani, or Michenzani? New urban centres are emerging before our eyes.

Is there enough planning and zoning?

Masoud Salim: Probably not. In Paje, the popular area on the east coast, it’s more damage control than planning.

Do you believe Zanzibar can sustain demand for all the new luxury developments?

Masoud Salim: That’s the big question everybody asks. The reality is that Zanzibar has become an international lifestyle destination. We should be more creative to include more of the population. Our unemployment rate is frightening.

Suleiman Mohammed: Variety is important – big hotels, small hotels, a bit of everything, Tourism cannot survive without local people; any investor who fails to support locals will fail. Zanzibar is a unique brand.

What are tourism stakeholders coplaining about most?

Suleiman Mohammed: Jet skis, beach boys, ever changing regulations…some hotels complain about Airbnbs, too. But we believe both have their rights. There must be a balance.

What’s your personal favourite spot in Zanzibar?

Masoud Salim: Stone Town. Take your kids to the rooftops to appreciate the heritage!

Suleiman Mohammed: Stone Town is our identity.

Ten years from now, what do you hope Zanzibar will look like?

Masoud Salim: I hope that  we build a mature investment environment with strong institutions, transparency and world-class infrastructure. Growth must be organised and sutained.

Suleiman Mohammed: I would be happy if Zanzibar becomes an example of smart tourism where modernisation and culture move together. We should not lose the very identity that made the world fall in love with us in the first place.

Moderation: A.Tapper

Wanted: More responsible Tourism Tourism

ZATI – a strong voice

The Zanzibar Association of Tourism Investors (ZATI) has over 600 members. The powerful private sector body represents tourism businesses of all areas and sizes – from hotels to tour operators. The association is a voice for responsible and inclusive tourism. Chairman is Suleiman Mohammed who recently also became the new chairman of the important Commison for Tourism. New members are welcome at ZATI.

Contact: zati.or.tz

REDA – launched in 2025

The Real Estate Developers Association (REDA) was launched in October 2023, bringing together key players in Zanzibar’s rapidly growing real estate sector. REDA serves as a bridge between the private sector and government institutions. Experts  like corporate lawyer Masoud Salim, covering 100 ongoing projects, make sure that „Zanzibar’s regulatory environment keeps pace with the complexity of real estate.“

Contact: reda-zanzibar.com