ARX Development

Foreign Investment and Egypt's Vision 2030

The recent focus within the Egyptian economy revolves around the importance of attracting foreign investments to Egypt and providing hard currency on one hand, and showcasing the local product as a globally competitive option on the other. This aligns with the Egyptian government's Vision 2030, as emphasized by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in his speeches and reiterated by the Prime Minister in various statements and meetings.

Real Estate as a Pillar of the Economy and the Potential for Export

According to published reports for the concluded fiscal year, it is evident that the real estate sector is one of the main pillars of the Egyptian economy—not only in terms of its contribution to the GDP but also as a strategic opportunity to elevate Egypt's status in the global real estate market through what is known as "real estate export."

Amid the rapid developments in this sector, it has become essential to highlight the opportunities in exporting Egyptian real estate and the state's role in creating a favorable environment for it.

The True Concept of Real Estate Export and Its Economic Impact

To clarify, exporting real estate does not mean physically relocating properties outside Egypt. Rather, it refers to attracting foreign investors—whether individuals or institutions—to purchase residential or commercial units within Egypt. This generates foreign currency, creates more job opportunities, and stimulates economic growth.

Industrial and Investment Dimensions of Real Estate Export

This attention to the sector stems from its direct and indirect impact on other industries such as steel and cement, which are locally produced, as well as its influence on sectors like construction and employment.

There are also other dimensions to real estate export, such as introducing foreign investors to the quality of Egyptian products. This is particularly relevant to global brands in sectors like food, fashion, and more, which often have specific criteria when choosing markets.

Talking about increasing investments also means discussing countless potential jobs—both formal and informal—and their contribution to the national GDP.

Egypt’s Competitive Advantages and Government Support

A key advantage of real estate export is that the demand already exists, thanks to Egypt’s unique strengths, such as its strategic geographic location and competitive prices compared to other countries, while maintaining a high-quality, creative product that meets diverse needs.

We are also referring to the state's support and commitment to developing this sector through the creation of new cities and major national projects like the New Administrative Capital, New Alamein, and Galala—projects that rival those in leading global markets.

Current Challenges and Proposed Solutions for Growth

These opportunities and advantages would not have been sufficient without the significant growth in real estate exports during the past fiscal year—an achievement that was only possible thanks to impactful and supportive government decisions. In recent years, the state has amended laws to allow foreigners to own property, especially in new and touristic cities, simplified property registration procedures through digital transformation and reduced bureaucracy, and launched wide-reaching promotional campaigns in cooperation with various entities like tourism promotion and overseas commercial offices.

Additionally, Egypt introduced a citizenship-by-investment program, similar to those in major countries, which is a strong incentive for those seeking residency and long-term settlement.

Despite all this support and opportunity, real estate export still faces several challenges. For example, there is a lack of a unified international pricing mechanism and a need for more banking facilities for developers working with foreign investors.

From my personal perspective, these challenges can be overcome by working together to:

Establish an independent authority for exporting Egyptian real estate
Launch multilingual digital platforms to market projects
Provide additional incentives to developers who achieve foreign sales targets