Mauritius is increasingly used as a family office hub for Africa-Gulf-India investment families — offering a GBC holding structure with DTA treaty access, common-law legal system, and competitive operating costs.
Ultra-high-net-worth families with investment portfolios spanning Africa, India, and the Gulf increasingly use Mauritius as a holding and family office platform — combining the GBC's DTA treaty network with Mauritius's political stability, English common law system, and proximity to key African markets.
Marensa Advisory advises on Mauritius family office structures — designing holding architectures that optimise treaty access, asset protection, and governance for cross-border families.
Discuss Mauritius Family Office StructuringMauritius family offices typically combine a GBC holding company with trust structures and local management — creating a regulated, treaty-efficient platform.
Mauritius family offices are most valuable when the family has genuine Africa or India investment exposure that benefits from DTA treaty access. Without treaty requirements, simpler offshore structures may be more cost-efficient.
Marensa Advisory, with offices in the UAE and expertise in the Mauritius-Gulf corridor, provides joined-up advice for families managing assets across both regions.
Start the ConversationFor families with significant Africa or India investment exposure, Mauritius's DTA network is hard to match. Singapore is superior for Asia-Pacific investment exposure. Many families maintain structures in both jurisdictions.
If the family office only manages the family's own investments (not third-party assets), a GBC holding company does not require an FSC investment management licence. If third-party assets are managed, an FSC licence (Investment Adviser or CIS Manager) is required.
For a GBC to have genuine substance, management and control must be exercised from Mauritius — meaning a majority of Board decisions must be made by locally resident directors. Remote UAE management of a Mauritius GBC can challenge substance requirements.
A basic Mauritius family office (GBC with substance, local directors, registered office) typically costs USD 15,000–30,000 for formation and USD 8,000–15,000 per year for ongoing maintenance. Costs vary by complexity and service providers used.