Guide to Buying a Home in Hurghada as a Foreigner

1. Decide what the home is for

Think about how you will use the home and how it will be managed while you are away.

• For a winter or holiday home, ask about the building’s rules, access, maintenance and the practical arrangements when the unit is empty.
• If you are moving with family, check current schools, healthcare and day-to-day travel yourself.
• If you hope to rent the unit, check the contract, building rules, management arrangements and any applicable permission before relying on rental income.

Compare locations in Best areas to buy an apartment in Hurghada. An advertised rental return or a residency benefit should never be assumed from the purchase alone.

2. Check the land and the seller

Ask who holds the land rights, how those rights were acquired, and who has authority to sell the particular unit. A registered land title, a land purchase contract, an allocation document and a building permit answer different questions. One document does not replace all the others. Have your lawyer inspect the chain of documents and check for restrictions, disputes or charges.

Ask your lawyer to check the current rules for you and the exact property, including any restrictions on ownership, use, sale or registration. The answer can depend on the property’s location and documents. Your lawyer can confirm it with the relevant property registration office and other government bodies before you commit to a purchase. Do not assume that a rule described for one part of Hurghada applies to every address.

Abtal develops and sells its projects directly. The land documents and registration position must still be checked for the exact project, building and unit. Ask Abtal for a written explanation with references to the relevant documents, then have your independent lawyer verify it.

Confirm the identity and authority of the person offering the unit. If someone contacts you on behalf of Abtal, use Verify an Abtal contact.

3. Check the unit and its documents

Request the building, floor, unit code, stated area and how it was measured; a floor plan; the finishing schedule; the current construction status; the draft sale contract; and the available land, project and permit documents. Ask your lawyer which documents have been issued, which remain pending, and what is promised in the contract rather than a brochure.

For a unit under construction, check the proposed delivery date, what is to be delivered, how defects will be recorded and what the contract says about delay. Ask separately about the land documents, any share of land mentioned in the contract, and the documents you would receive for the unit. Have your lawyer explain what each document does, what remains to be done and which government office can confirm the current procedure. A contract, a land document, a power of attorney and registration of your unit are different things.

Use Questions to ask before reserving directly with a developer as an interview list.

4. Put the reservation in writing

Before any reservation payment, request a written document identifying the unit and setting out the agreed price, payment dates, how long the unit is held, the proposed contract-signing process, and what happens to the payment if either party does not proceed. Read the refund and cancellation wording carefully.

An inquiry about a unit is not a reservation. Ask for written confirmation of availability and the final price when you book. Verify the recipient and payment instructions directly with the company, keep proof of payment, and ask your lawyer to check the current requirements for the transaction.

5. Review and sign the contract

Have your own Egyptian lawyer examine the Arabic contract and any translation before signing. The signed terms should identify the seller and buyer, the unit and plan, area and finishing, total price and payment schedule, delivery and delay provisions, any maintenance or service charges, cancellation terms, and the documents and conditions for later transfer or registration.

Ask who prepares each document, when it may be available and which party bears each charge under the proposed contract. Ask your lawyer to explain what signing the contract establishes and what additional steps, if any, remain before your unit is registered in your name.

If you cannot attend in person, ask your lawyer whether someone may act for you and which documents the relevant office currently accepts. Make sure you understand the scope of any authority you give. Confirm the identity documents needed for the named buyers before the contract is prepared.

6. Make payments with a clear record

Follow the account, currency, schedule and receipt procedure agreed in the final transaction documents. Verify account details directly with the company before transferring money, particularly if instructions change. Keep proof of each payment and an official receipt, and compare them with your payment schedule.

If conversion or an overseas transfer is involved, confirm the agreed currency and conversion method in writing. Ask your bank and lawyer what evidence to retain and whether the government office handling your transaction asks for additional documents.

7. Document handover and the next ownership step

At handover, compare the unit with the contract and finishing schedule. Record any defects, the agreed remedy and its timeframe in the handover record. Collect keys, meter information, building rules and the contact for maintenance. Abtal’s delivery and handover team can explain its project procedure.

Then request a written list of outstanding payments and documents and ask what the next ownership or registration step is, who handles it and where the current procedure can be confirmed. Handover does not answer every question about the documents you will ultimately receive. Abtal’s legal team can explain the company’s documents; your independent lawyer can check them with the relevant government office and advise you on their effect.

If living in Egypt is part of your plan, ask your lawyer and the responsible government authority about the current residence requirements. Do not rely on an assumption based on a property advertisement.

A checklist to take to your lawyer

Before reserving

• I verified the seller and any representative’s authority.
• I received the exact unit identification, plan, area basis and specification.
• I asked for the land, project and permit documents relevant to this unit, and know which office can verify them.
• I know the construction status and proposed contractual delivery date.
• I have the draft contract and written reservation terms.

Before signing

• My independent Egyptian lawyer reviewed the seller’s documents and the contract, and checked the current requirements with the relevant government offices.
• Price, currency, payment instructions, cancellation and delay terms are written down.
• Maintenance and other running costs are explained in writing.
• I understand which document I receive now and the conditions for later transfer or registration.
• If someone will act for me, the power of attorney has a defined scope.

At payment and handover

• I verified payment details independently and kept each official receipt.
• I checked the completed unit against its specification.
• Any defects and remedy dates are recorded in writing.
• I received the handover record and a written explanation of the next document or registration step.

Five mistakes to avoid

1. Paying before the unit and reservation terms are confirmed in writing.
2. Assuming a representative is authorised without checking.
3. Treating a signed sale contract, a land document or a power of attorney as registration of your unit.
4. Budgeting for rent without checking the building rules and actual running costs.
5. Signing before an independent Egyptian lawyer has examined the property documents.

Explore further: Rental support for owners · Our projects

This is a practical guide, not advice on a particular transaction. Requirements and government procedures can change. Before you commit to a purchase, ask an independent Egyptian lawyer to check your documents and confirm the current position with the competent government offices.