Foreign property purchases in The Gambia rise as diaspora and Europeans seek coastal homes

By Joop Logger, GamRealty — Property Match Makers April 11, 2026

Summary

• Diaspora buyers now account for 28% of Gambian property purchases
• European retirees driving demand for beachfront villas
• Foreign investment in Gambian real estate up 37% year-on-year
• Short-term rental revenues in Brufut up 38.6% as tourism grows

BANJUL, April 11 — Property purchases in The Gambia by foreign nationals and diaspora investors have surged in recent years, with real estate agents citing the country’s political stability, warm climate, and low entry costs as key drivers behind a wave of demand that shows little sign of slowing.

In a market once dominated by budget-conscious European sun-seekers and returning Gambians, the country known as “The Smiling Coast of Africa” is attracting a more diverse and higher-spending class of buyer, reshaping its coastal real estate landscape from Kololi to the emerging southern reaches of Sanyang and Gunjur.

Foreign investment in Gambian real estate has increased by 37% year-on-year, with coastal areas like Kotu and Kololi seeing property values appreciate 15–20% annually. Market analysis points to three defining trends: International retirees driving demand for beachfront apartments, Gambian diaspora investments now accounting for 28% of all property purchases, and sustainable architecture emerging as a key differentiator for premium developments.

The Gambia is entering a transformative era, underpinned by a projected 6.0% GDP growth and major infrastructure projects such as the OIC road corridor, which are redefining property values along key development corridors.

The country’s Atlantic coastline, which accounts for roughly 80% of all real estate transactions, has long drawn British and Scandinavian retirees seeking winter warmth at a fraction of Mediterranean prices. Coastal towns from Cape Point to Sanyang are seeing rising interest from retirees, expats, and diaspora families, with prices growing around 8% per year over the last five years.

Investors from Europe, the UK, and the United States have been particularly keen on purchasing property in The Gambia, lured by the potential for high returns, with foreign buyers often seeing the country as an accessible option for vacation homes, retirement properties, and rental investments due to its favorable tax rates and straightforward legal processes.

“The growth we are seeing is not a spike — it is structural,” said Joop Logger, founder and CEO of GamRealty, one of The Gambia’s leading real estate agencies. “Buyers come from the Netherlands, Germany, Scandinavia and the UK and increasingly from the Gambian diaspora across Europe and USA. They are not just looking for a holiday bolthole anymore. They want a proper investment, and The Gambia delivers on that.”

Logger, of Dutch origin, has been living and working in The Gambia since 2013, building GamRealty — self-styled as “Property Match Makers” — into one of the country’s most recognised agencies, covering the full coastal corridor from Cape Point to Kololi, Brufut, and Bijilo through to Sukuta, Tujereng, Sanyang, and Gunjur.

The premium coastal belt is where competition has intensified most sharply. Bijilo and Kololi command the highest prices, where beachfront land can range from D150,000 to over D500,000 per acre, with a number of high-end developments catering to investors seeking luxury waterfront living. Further south, Brufut, Tanji, Tujereng and Sanyang has emerged as a preferred location for gated communities and villas, while short-term rental revenues in the area have soared by 38.6%.

Gross rental yields range from 6% to 12% depending on property type and location, with demand peaking during the November-to-March tourist season when European travelers seek winter sun, and Kololi and Bijilo serving as hotspots for high-occupancy vacation properties.

Logger says GamRealty has seen a marked shift in buyer profile over the past two years. “More and more we are regularly matching investors who want two or three properties, or diaspora buyers who want to build a family compound and still generate rental income while they are abroad. The brief has become much more sophisticated.”

GamRealty specialises in the resale of homes and apartments, newly built beachfront and seaview apartments, commercial properties, and high-return investment opportunities, combining Dutch management with years of local expertise to provide a transparent and professional approach.

The diaspora community has become an increasingly powerful force in the market. Gambian nationals living in Europe are seeking coastal properties for family visits, with purchases completing in as little as two months and properties attracting strong rental interest immediately upon acquisition. For many, GamRealty’s ability to manage the full process remotely has been decisive.

“We have completed transactions entirely online, with buyers never setting foot in The Gambia until after the keys were theirs,” Logger said. “That trust has to be earned, and it is earned through transparency, verified listings, and proper legal support from start to finish. We call it carefree property buying — and we mean it.”

The Gambian government has introduced tax incentives for property buyers and investors in specific sectors, including tourism and hospitality, alongside simplified property transaction processes and strategic infrastructure projects that enhance the appeal of investment.

Foreign buyers do face specific legal considerations. Non-citizens can typically purchase property on a leasehold basis for up to 99 years, and it is essential that investors verify property titles and work closely with local legal experts. Transaction costs are also notable: investors must account for costs of approximately 13% to 18% of the purchase price. Logger is direct about the risks of going it alone. “There are still freelancers operating without oversight — what locals call ‘free roaming’ agents. They are the main source of bad experiences. Working with a licensed, established agency is not optional; it is the difference between a clean title and a legal dispute.”

Infrastructure investment is adding further momentum and road upgrades along the Trans-Gambia Highway have already reduced travel times by 40%.

For Logger, the fundamentals are clear — and the window for early movers remains open, but not indefinitely. “The Gambia is still affordable relative to any comparable coastal market in Africa or Europe. But prices are rising and the best plots are going. The buyers who acted three years ago are already sitting on significant appreciation. The buyers who wait another three years will be paying a very different price.”

Joop Logger is the founder and CEO of GamRealty — Property Match Makers, based in Bijilo, The Gambia. GamRealty can be reached at gamrealty.com or +220 2696613.