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Hurghada The Present and Future of the Red Sea’s Rising Star
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Can Foreigners Buy Property in Hurghada? A Clear 2026 Guide

Yes — foreigners can legally buy apartments in Hurghada, and many international buyers already own homes on the Red Sea. The process is clear once you know the rules. This guide explains them in plain language, so you can talk to any developer or lawyer with confidence.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Laws and procedures can change, so always confirm the details for your own purchase with an independent Egyptian lawyer.

The law that applies to foreign buyers

Foreign ownership of residential property in Egypt is governed by Law No. 230 of 1996. In short, it allows a non-Egyptian to own:

  • Up to two residential properties for the owner and their immediate family.
  • Each property can be up to 4,000 m² — far larger than any apartment, so this limit rarely matters to apartment buyers.

The same law generally asks foreign owners to hold a residential property for five years before selling it. However, a Prime Ministerial decree (No. 548 of 2005) exempts designated tourist areas — Hurghada and the Red Sea among them — from that five-year restriction, subject to the usual approvals. For most buyers in Hurghada, this means more flexibility if your plans change later.

Proof of ownership: contract, registration and the “Green Contract”

When you buy, you sign a sales contract with the seller or developer. The strongest proof of ownership in Egypt is registration with the Real Estate Registration & Notarization Authority (the “Shahr El Akary”). The registered title deed is commonly called the Green Contract.

Registration is not always possible on day one — especially for off-plan units, where the building is still under construction. That is why it is important to ask any developer, before you sign:

  • Who owns the land, and is the land registered?
  • What legal document will you receive now, and what will you receive at handover?
  • Is registration of your unit (or your share of the land) possible, and at what stage?

A serious developer will answer these questions clearly and show you the documents.

Step by step: how a purchase usually works

  1. Choose your project and unit. Visit, or ask for up-to-date videos and photos if you are abroad.
  2. Reserve the unit. Usually with a reservation payment, confirmed in writing.
  3. Review the contract. Ideally with your own lawyer. Check the unit number, area, finishing level, delivery date, and payment schedule.
  4. Sign and pay according to the agreed schedule, always against official receipts.
  5. Handover when the building is complete, followed by registration steps where applicable.

Do you need to be in Egypt?

Many buyers complete their first visit, choose a unit, and handle later steps remotely. Some steps can be done through a power of attorney (tawkeel) signed at a notary — ask your lawyer whether that suits your situation.

Why buying directly from the developer helps

When you buy from the company that owns and builds the project, you get answers about land, permits, construction and delivery from the source — not second-hand. At Abtal Hurghada Developer, we build our own projects, and we encourage buyers to visit our completed buildings before choosing an off-plan unit.

Explore Abtal projects

Have a question about buying as a foreigner? Message our team on WhatsApp — we are happy to walk you through it.

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