I love The Bahamas — not only as a place to live, but as a strategic investment hub. I enjoy Nassau. I appreciate the Abacos and the many out-islands, each with its own character. But there are good reasons I chose to build my life and business on Grand Bahama. As a real-estate developer, I live off the story and the future upside. That’s why I took the time to compare The Bahamas’ two most important islands — New Providence/Nassau and Grand Bahama — across the last five years: absolute investment volumes, resilience, diversification, and tax advantages. And yes, I often meet Nassau residents who look down on Grand Bahama with a smirk. To me, that’s a classic capital-city syndrome. The numbers tell a very different story.
Documented major projects ≈ $1.6B.
Active/approved pipeline: > $3B.
GBPA projection by end-2025: ≈ $5B.
Delivered/underway ≈ $970M.
Including announced capex (upper bound): ≈ $1.45B.
Grand Bahama is powered by multiple independent value drivers — global shipping, energy, logistics, aviation, and tourism — making the island more shock-resistant over cycles.
Nassau remains more dependent on tourism. Both islands benefit from The Bahamas’ tax-free regime (no income, capital-gains, or inheritance taxes). Grand Bahama adds the Freeport special economic zone with customs and import advantages.
| Criterion | Grand Bahama | New Providence / Nassau |
|---|---|---|
| 5-year volume (documented) | ≈ $1.6B | ≈ $970M |
| Pipeline / upper bound | > $3B (pipeline) · ≈ $5B by 2025 (projection) | ≈ $1.45B incl. announced capex |
| Sector mix | Tourism, shipyard, airport, logistics, energy, retail | Primarily tourism/hotels, cruise port, renovations |
| Resilience | Multiple independent value engines | Higher reliance on tourism |
| Tax advantages | Nationwide tax-free + Freeport zone benefits | Nationwide tax-free |
| Bottom line | Clear lead in volume & diversification | Strong, but less broad-based |
Tax-free rental income may be available under Bahamian law and program rules. All information without guarantee.
Organized by island with short descriptions.
Looking to build a position on Grand Bahama? We’ll walk you through vetted, limited-availability projects.