Teun
Co-Founder
Zanzibar Luxury Apartments for Sale
Two Developments. One Vision. The Finest Residences in Paje. Vela brings together two landmark residential complexes on Zanzibar’s most dynamic stretch of coastline. From compact studios to singular penthouses, every residence is designed around the same conviction: that luxury, sustainability, and strong investment returns belong under the same roof. Set within 700 meters of each other in the heart of Paje, Vela Breeze and Vela Blu offer distinct living experiences united by a shared commitment to the island and the people who choose to call it home.
- Vela Breeze Residences
- Vela Blu Residences
- Residence Types
- from Paje Beach
- Projected ROI
Whether you are drawn to the ocean-front intimacy of a studio or the panoramic solitude of a rooftop penthouse, the Vela portfolio spans seven distinct residence types across two professionally managed complexes. Every unit is delivered furnished, connected to resort-grade amenities, and backed by a hospitality team that turns ownership into income from day one.
Find Your Place on the Island
Seven residence types. Two addresses. One philosophy of thoughtful design, responsible construction, and returns that reward patience and vision. Browse the full Vela collection below to find the home, the investment, or the retreat that speaks to you.
Vela Breeze — Where Coastal Living Began
The original Vela development, positioned just 300 meters from Paje Beach and surrounded by the village’s finest boutique hotels and restaurants. One hundred and eight residences across four types, from ocean-inspired studios to duplex penthouses with private rooftop terraces. Vela Breeze is where the Vela story started, and construction is already well underway.
Vela Blu — The Next Chapter in Island Living
Ninety-seven residences arranged around a landscaped courtyard with a free-form lagoon pool, 480 meters from the shore. White-washed facades, warm timber screens, and natural stone meet contemporary proportions in a complex that builds on everything Vela Breeze established and refines it further. Three residence types, from welcoming studios to a singular three-bedroom penthouse that exists in a category of one.
Resort-Grade Amenities at Every Address
Both Vela Breeze and Vela Blu are designed around shared facilities that serve owners and guests from early morning to late evening. Swimming pools, on-site dining, fitness spaces, and lush tropical grounds create the daily rhythm of a residential resort, while solar energy, water conservation systems, and backup generators keep running costs low and environmental impact lower.
Explore Vela Breeze amenitiesSwimming Pool
Each complex centres on its own signature pool. Vela Breeze offers a large communal pool bordered by tropical greenery. Vela Blu features a sculpted, lagoon-style pool with organic curves, planted islands, and hardwood sun decks that wind through the courtyard.
Restaurant & Bar
On-site dining at both developments serves Zanzibari and international cuisine from breakfast through to evening drinks, so residents and guests never need to leave the grounds to find a memorable meal.
Gym & Fitness Center
Fully equipped workout spaces with cardio, free weights, and functional training areas. Natural ventilation and garden-facing openings make each session feel less like a routine and more like a reward.
Exotic Gardens
Dense tropical landscaping runs through both complexes: monstera, bromeliads, heliconias, and mature coconut palms connected by stone pathways that turn a walk through the grounds into a sensory experience.
Reception & Concierge
Staffed arrival points at each development manage guest logistics, local recommendations, and day-to-day resident support. The team that keeps everything running quietly behind the scenes.
Outdoor Co-Working
Shaded work areas with reliable internet access, comfortable seating, and views that make focused productivity feel effortless. Stay connected to the world without disconnecting from the island.
Sustainable Infrastructure
Rooftop solar panels, backup generators, and water-saving fixtures across both developments reduce environmental impact while keeping service charges predictable for every owner.
24-Hour Security
Professional security teams and integrated monitoring systems operate around the clock at both complexes, covering access points, communal spaces, and perimeter boundaries without interruption.
Paje: One Village, Two Exceptional Addresses
Vela Breeze sits 300 meters from the sand. Vela Blu, 480 meters. Between them, 700 meters of coastal road lined with boutique hotels, cafés, and the unhurried energy of a Zanzibari fishing village that has grown into one of the Indian Ocean’s most sought-after destinations. This is Paje: a place where kitesurfers share the shoreline with local fishermen, where smoothie bars sit beside spice stalls, and where a growing community of residents and remote workers have turned a seasonal beach town into a year-round address.
For investors, the appeal is structural. Paje attracts visitors twelve months a year. Nightly rates and occupancy figures here consistently outperform the island average. And with limited buildable land, government height restrictions, and rising international demand, new supply struggles to keep pace with the market.
Beach and Water
Paje Beach stretches wide and shallow, its warm turquoise water and reliable trade winds drawing kitesurfers from every continent. Both Vela complexes place this coastline within a short walk, making the beach a daily fixture rather than a weekend excursion.
Dining and Culture
From the artisan kitchens of Shanga Restaurant to the relaxed open-air tables of the Bento Food Court, Paje’s culinary scene spans local Zanzibari flavour and international comfort food. The iconic Rock Restaurant, perched on a tidal outcrop 15 km along the coast, remains one of Zanzibar’s most photographed dining destinations.
Natural Wonders
Maalum Cave sits just 350 meters from Vela Blu. A natural freshwater pool concealed beneath dense tropical canopy, it draws visitors from across the island. For Vela residents, it is a short morning stroll from home.
Village Life
Paje’s centre is within easy walking distance of both developments. Independent boutiques, neighbourhood bars, co-working lounges, and the daily rhythm of a Zanzibari coastal community. A complete island lifestyle that does not require a car.
Regional Connections
Zanzibar International Airport is 50 km away, with direct routes linking the island to Dar es Salaam, Nairobi, Doha, and onward global hubs. Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site filled with centuries of Swahili history, spice markets, and carved-door architecture, is a day trip to the northwest.
Two complexes sharing the same coastal village, the same culinary scene, and the same expanding tourism market. A location that works as hard for your investment as it does for your quality of life.
Sustainability as a Shared Standard
Both Vela developments are constructed around the same environmental principles: use local materials that belong in this climate, generate clean energy on-site, conserve water without asking anyone to notice, and build with enough quality that the next renovation is decades away. Sustainability at Vela is not a feature to highlight; it is the logic that informs every construction decision from foundation to rooftop.
Solar Generation Across Both Complexes
Rooftop photovoltaic arrays at Vela Breeze and Vela Blu convert equatorial sunshine into usable electricity, cutting grid dependence and lowering shared utility charges for every owner.
Engineered for Efficiency
Flow-optimised fixtures across every kitchen, bathroom, and shared wet area deliver comfortable performance while consuming measurably less of the island’s limited freshwater supply.
Stone, Timber, and Salt Air
Locally quarried coral stone, sustainably harvested hardwood, and marine-rated hardware are specified for their ability to age gracefully in a tropical maritime environment. Materials that develop character over time rather than fighting the conditions they are placed in.
A Lighter Footprint
Dedicated recycling infrastructure and sustainable material choices across both sites promote responsible waste management. The goal is simple: leave the island better than we found it.
Local Hands, Local Materials
Construction workforces are drawn from Zanzibar’s skilled trades. Building materials are sourced on-island wherever possible. Both developments channel investment directly into the communities that surround them.
The Team Behind Both Developments
Catalin
Co-Founder
Michel
Head of Sales and Operations
Roxana
Lead Architect
Nicu
Project Manager
Roelene
Sales, Hospitality & Client Relations
With a robust background in the window industry in The Netherlands, Teun brings precision and a commitment to quality to every element of the Vela developments. His expertise in premium materials and exacting standards ensures that every detail, from structural integrity to finishing touches, meets the highest benchmarks.
Why Investors Are Choosing Zanzibar
Three forces are converging in Zanzibar’s property market. First, tourism is scaling fast: 917,000 visitors arrived in 2025, up 25% on the prior year, and government targets now project 1.2 million annual arrivals before the end of 2026. Second, the island is investing in itself, with more than $500 million committed to transport, utilities, and coastal infrastructure. Third, supply cannot keep up: only 600 to 800 new residential units reach the market each year, a fraction of what rising demand requires. For anyone weighing a property investment in East Africa, the imbalance between what travellers want and what the island can offer represents a window that will not stay open indefinitely. Both Vela complexes are built to perform inside exactly that dynamic.
1
Double-Digit Rental Yields
Prime beachfront properties in Paje are achieving some of East Africa’s strongest gross rental returns. Across the Vela portfolio, projected yields of 12% to 23% are underpinned by professional short-stay management, year-round visitor traffic, and nightly rates that reflect the quality of the product.
2
Sustained Property Appreciation
Limited buildable land, government-imposed height restrictions, and surging international demand create natural scarcity across the island. Property values in the Paje corridor continue to climb, with forecasts suggesting 45% to 80% appreciation over the coming years.
3
Professionally Managed, Fully Hands-Off
A specialist hospitality company operates the rental programme across both developments end to end: listing placement, booking coordination, guest communication, housekeeping, maintenance, and monthly financial reporting. Your property generates income whether you are on the island or on the other side of the world.
4
A Tax Structure That Favours Owners
Zanzibar applies a 15% income tax rate on rental earnings, with no VAT on residential property sales or rentals. Owners retain 60% of net rental revenue. Few comparable coastal markets anywhere offer terms this favourable to property investors.
5
Flexible, Milestone-Linked Payments
Ownership begins with deposits as low as $3,000. Remaining payments are structured around verified construction progress, spreading the financial commitment across the build timeline rather than requiring a single lump sum.
6
Residency Through Investment
An investment of $100,000 or more in a ZIPA-approved project qualifies the buyer for a renewable two-year residence permit, extending to a spouse and up to four dependants, with residency rights across both Zanzibar and mainland Tanzania.
Watch Both Developments Take Shape
Vela Breeze is well into construction, with regular video updates documenting every milestone on the ground. Vela Blu is rising alongside it, adding a second chapter to the Vela presence in Paje. Browse the latest footage to see the quality, pace, and precision of both builds.
Limited residences across both developments!
Begin Your Vela Story Today
Two hundred and five residences across two complexes in the heart of Paje. Studios, apartments, and penthouses, each delivered furnished, professionally managed, and connected to resort-grade amenities. Whether you are seeking a home that moves at the pace of the island or an investment that works while you are away, the right Vela residence is waiting.