[Expert Insights] Kesho Gooriah, Founder of Soft Skills Consultants (Mauritius) Ltd

From Regulation to Professionalisation:
Is Mauritius Ready for the Next Era of Real Estate?

As Mauritius strengthens the regulation of its rapidly evolving property sector, a new question is emerging: should professional training and competency standards become the next step in the development of the real-estate profession?Construct Magazine speaks with Kesho Gooriah, Founder and Chief Soft Skills Officer of Soft Skills Consultants (Mauritius) Ltd, about regulation, professional competence and what Mauritius can learn from more mature property markets such as South Africa.

CONSTRUCT: How would you describe the current state of the real-estate sector in Mauritius?

KESHO GOORIAH: Mauritius has developed a dynamic and increasingly sophisticated real-estate industry. Property today is much more than the traditional buying and selling of houses and land. The industry encompasses residential and commercial real estate, property development, land promotion, facilities and property management, major investment projects and transactions of growing complexity involving both Mauritian and international investors. Its economic weight is also considerable: real estate represents substantial private-sector investment and has become an important destination for foreign direct investment.

I believe, however, that the sector is now reaching a new stage of maturity. The question is no longer simply “How do we grow the property market?” but “How do we professionalise it?” Growth creates opportunities, but maturity requires standards, competencies, accountability and public confidence.

Is this where the Real Estate Agent Authority comes in?

— Absolutely. The establishment and operationalisation of the Real Estate Agent Authority (REAA) represent a major milestone for Mauritius. The regulatory framework pursues several key objectives: regulating and controlling the activities of real-estate agents; promoting transparency, accountability and integrity; protecting people involved in property transactions; and contributing to the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing. The first phase of mandatory registration started on 1 August 2026, covering real-estate agents involved in property sales and purchases, land promoters and property developers.

This changes the landscape considerably. Real estate is progressively moving from what has historically been a relatively open commercial activity towards a more formally regulated profession.

What does registration involve?

— The new framework sets out precise registration requirements. There is currently a non-refundable processing fee of Rs 2,000. Upon approval, the annual registration fee is Rs 20,000 for a real-estate agent and Rs 100,000 for a land promoter or property developer. The application process, however, goes well beyond paying a fee: applicants must provide information and documentation relating to their identity, business, professional history and suitability.

The message is therefore clear: being a real-estate professional now carries responsibilities as well as commercial opportunities. That is a very positive development for the sector.

Is regulation enough to create a professional real-estate industry?

— Regulation is essential, but regulation and professional competence are two different things. A regulatory authority determines who may operate and sets the rules of the profession. Training develops the knowledge, skills and professional behaviours needed to work effectively within those rules.

Although applicants may be required to submit educational and professional certificates as part of the registration process, Mauritius does not yet appear to have established a specific, mandatory real-estate qualification as a universal entry requirement for the profession. This presents an interesting opportunity: the next stage of maturity could be to complement regulation with professional development and competency standards.

In other words, registration gives permission to practise; professional development builds the competence to practise well. The two should ultimately reinforce each other.

Why is competence particularly important in real estate?

— Because buying or selling property can be one of the largest financial decisions an individual or company will ever make. A professional in this field needs a great deal more than the ability to find a buyer and a seller. He or she must understand areas such as property markets, commercial practice, property development, client relationships, negotiation, professional ethics, documentation, facilities management, risk, investment considerations and the regulatory environment.

And there is another dimension that Mauritius cannot ignore: AML/CFT [anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism] compliance. Real estate is internationally recognised as a sector requiring particular vigilance, because property can be used to disguise or integrate illicit funds. Under the Mauritian framework, the REAA has an explicit role in cooperating with the Financial Intelligence Unit and other public bodies to detect and prevent money laundering and terrorist and proliferation financing. A registered real-estate professional therefore has responsibilities that extend far beyond closing a sale.

Why should international scrutiny matter to the industry?

— Mauritius has worked extremely hard over the years to strengthen its AML/CFT framework and its international reputation as a credible jurisdiction. The property industry is part of that system. The country will once again be assessed under the ESAAMLG [Eastern and Southern Africa Anti-Money Laundering Group] mutual-evaluation process. What matters, therefore, is effective implementation: not merely having legislation on paper, but demonstrating that regulated sectors understand and apply their obligations.

This is why professionalisation should not be seen simply as an additional administrative burden, but as an investment in the credibility of Mauritius. Every professional property transaction contributes, in its own small way, to confidence in the Mauritian market.

Where does training fit into this transformation?

— Mauritius does not need to reinvent the wheel. Other markets have developed considerable expertise in professional property education and training. South Africa, for example, has a much larger and more mature property industry, and a well-established tradition of education in property management, property development and real estate.

Soft Skills Consultants (Mauritius) Ltd has therefore partnered with the College of People Management and Development (CPMD), South Africa, to make specialised property training available in Mauritius. The objective is not simply to bring four more training courses to the market. Our longer-term ambition is to help raise professional standards across the Mauritian property sector by exposing practitioners to structured knowledge, international practices and a professional approach to property.

What programmes will be introduced?

— We are introducing four specialised programmes addressing different parts of the property value chain.

1. Property & Facilities Management

This programme deals with the effective management of property and facilities. As buildings become more sophisticated and organisations pay closer attention to cost, sustainability, asset utilisation and occupant experience, facilities management is becoming a strategic discipline in its own right.

2. Professional Property Development

Property development requires the coordination of numerous commercial, financial, technical and stakeholder considerations. This programme gives participants a more structured understanding of the sector and of the processes involved in turning development opportunities into viable projects.

3. Commercial Property Practice

Commercial property calls for a different level of understanding from conventional residential transactions. The programme introduces participants to the principles and practices needed to operate effectively in this market.

4. Residential & Commercial Real Estate Programme

Particularly relevant to professionals involved in real-estate transactions, this programme provides professional development across both residential and commercial real-estate practice. Together, the four programmes cover a significant part of the property lifecycle, from development and management to commercial and residential real-estate practice.

Are these intended only for real-estate agents?

— Not at all. The property ecosystem is much broader. Depending on the programme selected, participants could include real-estate agents and negotiators, property and facilities managers, land promoters, property developers, employees of property companies, commercial-property practitioners, people considering careers in real estate and professionals whose responsibilities increasingly involve property. The aim is to begin building a stronger culture of professional competence across the sector.

Could these programmes eventually contribute towards recognised professional standards in Mauritius?

— That is certainly a conversation worth having. We must distinguish between what the law requires today and what the profession may need tomorrow. We are not suggesting that these CPMD programmes currently constitute a requirement for registration with the REAA. They do not.

What we are saying is that Mauritius now has an opportunity to ask an important question: what should a competent Mauritian real-estate professional actually know and be able to do?

Once we begin asking it, we move from registration towards competence. Over time, there could be greater dialogue between regulators, industry associations, employers, practitioners, training institutions and other stakeholders on professional standards, continuing professional development and competency frameworks suited to Mauritius.

What would success look like five years from now?

— I would like to see the words “real-estate professional” carry genuine meaning. A client dealing with a professional should be confident that this person is not simply registered, but knows the market, operates ethically, understands his or her regulatory responsibilities, demonstrates appropriate technical and interpersonal competencies and is committed to continuing professional development. Mauritius has built an international reputation in tourism, financial services and several other sectors by progressively raising standards. There is no reason why we cannot show the same ambition in real estate. The REAA has laid an important regulatory foundation; the next frontier is professional competence. Ultimately, this is bigger than training. It is about protecting consumers, strengthening businesses, supporting regulators, improving professional standards and reinforcing the international credibility of Mauritius as a transparent and trusted destination in which to invest, develop, buy and sell property.bA growing property market creates transactions. A professional property market creates trust.
Mauritius now needs both.

About Kesho Gooriah

Kesho Gooriah is the Founder and Chief Soft Skills Officer of Soft Skills Consultants (Mauritius) Ltd, with over 43 years of professional experience in Mauritius and the United Kingdom. A specialist in soft skills, competency development and workforce development, he has trained and coached over 4,500 participants from more than 450 organisations in Mauritius.

He holds an MBA from the University of Surrey and two postgraduate qualifications from the UK. Through a partnership with the College of People Management and Development (CPMD), South Africa, he is actively promoting professional training, competency standards and continuous professional development within Mauritius’ evolving real-estate sector.