BAHAMAS Trends and Developments Contributed by: Michaela Sumner-Budhi, Nia Rolle-Campbell and Eryn Wilmott, GrahamThompson
GrahamThompson Sassoon House Shirley Street & Victoria Avenue PO Box N 272 Nassau The Bahamas Tel: +1 242 322 4130 Fax: +1 242 328 1069 Email: info@gtclaw.com Web: www.grahamthompson.com
Real property Overview
Moving The Bahamas Forward The Bahamas has been a well-established destina - tion from the 1950s and continues to enjoy a stable government and a parliamentary democracy based on the Westminster model. Investors rely on a seasoned and experienced legal infrastructure underpinned by a well-regarded court system with ultimate appeal to the Privy Council in the UK. World-class hous - ing, internationally accredited education and medical facilities, and easy accessibility to the United States make it an attractive destination for ultra-high-net- worth homeowners and investors. Immigration and residency options include permanent residence and annual residence. For business owners, the Commer - cial Enterprises Act facilitates expedited approvals for a variety of entrepreneurial ventures that can be oper - ated both within and outside of The Bahamas. On 28 May 2025, the Prime Minister of The Bahamas, the Hon. Philip Davis KC, tabled “Budget 2025/2026: Expanding Opportunities Island by Island” in the House of Assembly. The government’s budget com - munication has made it clear that the government’s focus during this budget cycle is on security, oppor - tunity, affordability and reform with the aim of allowing The Bahamas, its citizens and residents to exploit new opportunities and usher in a new era of progress and renewal. A general election was held on 12 May 2026. The government’s 2026/2027 budget communication is expected to be tabled in the House of Assembly in a few weeks.
The most significant recent development in Bahami - an land law is the introduction of two complementary pieces of legislation: the Land Adjudication Act, 2025 and the Registered Land Act, 2025. Together, these Acts create the statutory framework for the new sys - tem of land adjudication and registered title in The Bahamas. Both Acts were brought into force and deemed effec - tive from 1 January 2026. The new regime is intended to operate in two stages. Firstly, the Land Adjudication Act provides the process for identifying and determining the rights and interests in land, and secondly, the Registered Land Act pro - vides the framework for registering those rights and regulating future dealings with registered land. The Land Adjudication Act , 2025 The Land Adjudication Act provides for the system - atic adjudication of rights and interests in land in The Bahamas, the demarcation of boundaries, and related matters. The Act applies where the Minister declares an area to be an adjudication area. That declaration must be published in the Gazette and must also be publicised more broadly, including through newspapers and an official government website. For Family Islands, notice must also be posted in the relevant administrator’s office. Lands held in common under the Commonage Act cannot be declared adjudication areas.
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