Senior real estate developers, investors and industry experts convened at the Afro-Asian General Investors Union Forum to examine opportunities and challenges in Egypt’s real estate sector, with a particular focus on tourism-oriented properties and real estate exports.
Discussions centred on boosting Egypt’s global competitiveness, attracting foreign investment, and leveraging major national projects alongside digital solutions to support sustainable sectoral growth.
Chairperson of Business Bay Developments, Amir Sami, said the company is focused on delivering globally standardised commercial and hospitality products that are export-ready, targeting overseas businesspeople and international firms. He noted that Egypt has all the ingredients needed to export real estate, including a favourable climate, strong tourism appeal and an attractive investment environment, while stressing that the semi-finished property model is unsuitable for export markets.
Ehab El-Obeidi, CEO of Rayn Developments, said that despite Egypt’s strong fundamentals, such as political stability and a strategic geographic location, its share of global real estate trade remains just 2.5% of a $250bn market. He emphasised the need for closer integration between the private sector and the state to unlock the sector’s full potential, calling for tax incentives and stronger government support, particularly in light of an estimated shortfall of 200,000 hotel units.
Chairperson of Tayel Group Wissam Tayel said real estate exports represent a key channel for attracting foreign currency inflows. He highlighted the investment potential of Upper Egypt, citing growing demand driven by universities and entertainment activities, and called for activating the hotel apartment model in the region, which receives around 500,000 Arab visitors annually. He also urged the government to simplify procedures for converting residential and administrative units into hotel use.
Founder and CEO of Prime Hospitality Management Group Moataz Amin said recent government decisions allow residential and administrative properties to be licensed as hotel units under specific security, safety and hygiene standards, without fees for properties comprising more than eight units—provided they are operated by specialised companies.
Advisor to the Afro-Asian Investors Union for Urban Development Abdel Aziz El-Kafrawy revealed that the sector has successfully exported and sold units worth $1.9bn. He underscored the need to establish a dedicated regulatory authority for Egypt’s real estate market and to develop a clear master plan to attract foreign investors, particularly to Upper Egypt.
Meanwhile, Managing Director and Vice Chairperson of Al Taamir Mortgage Finance – Al Oula Ayman Abdel Hamid said mortgage financing helps legalise property documentation and reassures foreign investors through the foreign ownership registry, adding that after-sales services remain among the sector’s key challenges.
Several speakers stressed the importance of finishing standards, architectural identity, fire safety codes and professional operating models in enhancing property value and export readiness. Others highlighted the growing role of proptech, digital solutions and integrated asset management in shaping the future of real estate development.
The session concluded with broad consensus that exporting real estate is no longer solely about construction, but about creating integrated, digitally enabled assets that deliver sustainable value, enhance user experience and strengthen Egypt’s position as a competitive destination for global real estate investment.
