Buying guide

Buying property in Egypt from abroad

How Egyptians living in the US, the Gulf and Europe can shortlist, reserve and pay for property in Egypt without travelling, with live asking prices by area.

• GuideType
• 4 minReading time
• 2026-09-28Last reviewed

Buying guideBuying Property in Egypt from Abroad: A Guide for Expats

Last reviewed 2026-09-28. General information, not legal or tax advice.

Who this guide is for

This guide is for Egyptians who live and work abroad, in the United States, Canada, the Gulf or Europe, and want to buy a home, an investment or a holiday home back in Egypt. Most of the steps can be done from where you live. You may never need to fly in until handover.

Foreign nationals can also buy residential property in Egypt, but with extra conditions. See the section for non-Egyptian buyers below.

What property costs today, by area

These are the areas with the most apartments listed on REONE right now. Each row links to the full list of available apartments in that area.

Asking prices from source listings on REONE, as of 2026-10-04, with mistyped outlier listings excluded. They are not sale prices; confirm the current price with the developer or a consultant.

Prices in new compounds are set by developers in Egyptian pounds and are usually paid over several years. If your income is in dollars, remember that exchange rate movements change what each installment costs you.

Step by step, from shortlist to contract

1. Shortlist online. Compare compounds by price, price per m², bedrooms and delivery date. REONE listings show where each asking price comes from.
2. Check the developer. Look at what the developer has already delivered, and whether earlier compounds were handed over on time. Visit a finished project if a relative can go for you.
3. Ask for the current price and payment plan in writing. Listed prices change. Ask for the down payment, the number of years, any maintenance deposit and the club or service fees.
4. See the unit remotely. Ask for a live video call from the site or the sales office, not only renders. For a resale unit, ask for a video walk-through of the actual apartment.
5. Reserve. Developers usually ask for a reservation payment to hold a unit. Ask whether it is refundable and for how long before you pay it.
6. Review the contract. Ask for the draft contract before you sign. Have an Egyptian real estate lawyer check it, especially the delivery date, the penalties for late delivery, and what happens if you miss an installment.
7. Sign and pay. You can sign yourself on a visit, or through a power of attorney (see below).

Buying without travelling: power of attorney

If you cannot be in Egypt to sign, you can give a trusted relative or your lawyer a power of attorney (tawkeel). Egyptians abroad can have a power of attorney issued and certified at the Egyptian embassy or a consulate in the country where they live.

• Ask for a specific power of attorney that covers buying this one unit and signing its contract, rather than a general one over all your affairs.
• Check with the developer which wording they accept before you apply, so the document is not rejected.
• Keep a copy of every document your representative signs for you.

Paying from abroad

• Pay by bank transfer to the developer's company account, never to a personal account, and keep every receipt.
• Some developers accept payment in foreign currency or offer plans for Egyptians abroad. Ask for the terms in writing, including which exchange rate applies.
• Set up the installments so a missed transfer from abroad does not trigger a late penalty. Ask about post-dated cheques or standing orders through an Egyptian bank account.

Registration and handover

Most units in new compounds are sold with a primary contract with the developer. Formal registration at the Real Estate Registry (El Shahr El Akary) often comes later, sometimes years after handover. Ask the developer how and when the unit will be registered, and who pays the fees.

At handover, a relative or an engineer you hire can inspect the unit for you against the contract specifications before you accept it.

Non-Egyptian buyers

Egyptian law allows foreign nationals to own residential property, with limits on the number of units and conditions on use. Some areas, including parts of Sinai, have extra restrictions. The rules change from time to time, so confirm your case with an Egyptian lawyer before you reserve.

Checklist before you pay anything

• The developer's company name on the contract matches the company you are paying.
• The price, payment plan and delivery date are written in the contract, not only in a brochure.
• You know every fee on top of the unit price: maintenance deposit, club membership, parking.
• Your power of attorney covers exactly what your representative will sign.
• You have receipts for every payment.

How REONE can help

REONE lists compounds and units across Egypt with their asking prices, payment plans where the developer publishes them, and delivery dates. You can message a consultant on WhatsApp from any country, or ask Zaki, REONE's AI advisor, questions in Arabic or English on the homepage.

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