Article updated on March 3, 2025
Like any other real estate investment, buying land in Senegal is a way to increase your wealth! 🏠
Whether you're looking to build your own home , invest for the long term, or simply put your money aside, land in Senegal is a wise choice. Indeed, the local real estate market is booming. This trend is expected to continue into 2025 despite the global economic situation. Therefore, if you wish to purchase land, several factors must be considered to ensure your investment is successful.
In this new article, you'll discover all our tips and tricks for successfully buying land in Senegal . Let's get started! 🙂
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Buying land in Senegal: let's start with the budget 💵
Before you even begin your search, you need to define your budget . Buying land in Senegal follows the same logic as any other investment , and knowing how much you can spend is the essential first step. Once you have a clear idea of this amount, you can start your search. Similarly, if you entrust your search to a real estate agency , they will have all the necessary information to offer you land that fits your budget.
Knowing your payment method is also important. If you wish to take out a mortgage , you will first need to visit your bank so they can determine your borrowing capacity. This is calculated based on your debt-to-income ratio. However, be aware that banks do not grant loans for properties that are still under deliberation (see later in the article).
If you decide to buy land in Senegal by paying cash, this will be a major argument for the owner, as there will be no suspensive clause when you sign at the notary's office .
Identify the location to buy your land in Senegal 📍
Senegal has benefited from a very promising real estate market for over a decade. Indeed, ever-increasing demand makes the country highly attractive to both developers and builders. Furthermore, the government has invested heavily in the development of the Dakar-Mbour-Thiès region, constructing infrastructure such as the Blaise Diagne International Airport in Diass. These investments aim to boost the region's economic activity and thus enable Senegal to successfully achieve its development goals.
Therefore, whether for building a villa or making an investment, the choice of location is crucial. Consequently, we can identify four major areas:
- The metropolis of Dakar , where real estate prices have reached historic highs. The city is, in fact, the most expensive in all of West Africa. Sale prices there are significantly higher compared to the rest of the country. Land for sale listings in Dakar .
- The Petite Côte , which is also experiencing incredible growth in its real estate market, boasts towns like Saly , Ngaparou, and La Somone . Land prices in these towns have skyrocketed in recent years, leading buyers to increasingly look to neighboring municipalities.
- The various urban expansion zones, such as Diamniadio , Diass , or even Lac Rose , are hubs poised for growth in the coming years, with more affordable housing prices than Dakar or the Petite Côte.
- The agricultural areas around Thiès and Mbour , if you favour an activity in this direction with a large number of farms and orchards.
Find out about land prices 🏷️
As mentioned above, buying land in Senegal will not have the same cost depending on the location you choose.
Some areas are still affordable while in others their prices per square meter are becoming very high, sometimes even unaffordable!
For example, Dakar experiences significant disparities in land costs depending on the neighborhood. The Almadies district is undoubtedly one of the most expensive in the capital, where prices per square meter approach 1 million CFA francs . On the outskirts of Dakar, in the Mbao development zone ( ZAC Mbao) , for instance, prices are considerably lower, averaging around 150,000 CFA francs per square meter. Note that these are only averages, and these amounts can vary depending on the size of the plot.
Along the Petite Côte , land is more affordable. While prices are rising, they are still far from those in Dakar. It's still possible to find attractive, serviced building plots (with water and electricity) for 25,000 CFA francs per square meter, including fees Saly command higher prices , buyers are increasingly turning to neighboring areas such as Warang and Popenguine. These two, along with many others, represent up-and-coming sectors, as do Diamniadio and areas on the outskirts of Dakar, such as Lac Rose.
Finally, agricultural areas, ideal for land-related activities, still offer very affordable prices. 10,000 FCFA is the price per square meter for a plot of land in Diass.
The different ownership contracts 📑
Buying land in Senegal requires a property deed. In Senegal, this document can take several forms and grant different rights to the owners.
- The land title : This is the only title that grants its holder full and complete ownership of the property. It can only be issued after a transaction carried out before a notary. Any other method would make obtaining an individual land title impossible.
- The emphyteutic lease : This is a long-term lease, generally lasting from 18 to 99 years. In this case, the owner (or tenant, as the case may be) is obligated to develop the land within 24 months of obtaining the lease. The State may reclaim the land in exchange for compensation. The individual has the option of converting their lease into a land title.
- The deliberation: This doesn't refer to ownership but rather to a "right of occupancy ." The document is issued by the municipality where the plot is located. A lease application can then be submitted. This simple right of occupancy allows you to develop your land in Senegal. In this case, the two parties can enter into a private sales agreement, with a lawyer present, for example. This contract must then be validated by the relevant tax and land registry .
Buying land in Senegal: our advice ✅✅✅
To successfully purchase land in Senegal, and after identifying your budget and preferred area, you can begin your search. As we always say, we strongly advise you to contact a real estate agency. If you are looking for land in the capital, here is a list of real estate agencies in Dakar . If you are interested in the Petite Côte region, here is a list of real estate agencies in Saly .
The real estate professional will guarantee the security of your transaction by offering products tailored to your needs and budget. Furthermore, they will be a valuable asset during negotiations with the owner, as well as accompanying you to the notary . They will help you gather all the legal documents necessary for the sale of land (NICAD plan, capital gains tax, undeveloped land tax, etc.).
Also, make sure the land you're interested in is buildable ! To do this, you'll need to contact the planning department to obtain a planning certificate. This document will tell you what you can and cannot do in terms of construction and development. The Local Urban Development Plan (PLU) can also provide information on these important points. Your goal is to obtain a building permit . Again, a real estate agent can help you with these procedures.
In this regard, we advise you to use a notary's office. Only a notary can guarantee the authenticity of your sales contract and legally secure your property rights. Notary fees are on a sliding scale and vary depending on the property's price.
As you've probably gathered, buying land in Senegal isn't a quick process. After reading this article, we hope you have a clearer understanding of the procedures and best practices. Unscrupulous individuals may try to convince you to buy land they don't even own. That's why we always recommend using a professional.
Do you have a real estate project ? Discover all our real estate listings for land for sale in Senegal . Or perhaps you're looking for land for sale in Dakar ?
Looking for potential buyers for your land in Senegal? Here is the " Sell " form from KEUR-IMMO.com