Eng. Mohamed Khattab, a real estate development and strategic planning consultant, said that exporting any product—whether real estate or any other commodity—is of great importance to any country, as it helps improve the trade balance by narrowing the gap between exports and imports. This, in turn, directly reduces pressure on foreign currency reserves.

Khattab explained that Egypt has suffered for years from a trade deficit due to imports exceeding exports, placing increasing pressure on foreign currency availability and contributing to the continued rise in the U.S. dollar exchange rate following successive currency flotation measures.

The real estate development and strategic planning consultant added that supporting exports across all sectors is an economic necessity and that real estate exports represent one of the key channels for increasing the country’s foreign currency revenues. However, achieving the desired results requires establishing several fundamental conditions.

Real Estate Consultant Identifies Three Essential Conditions for Exporting Egyptian Property

Khattab stated that the first requirement is creating incentives that encourage foreigners to purchase property in Egypt. This begins with strengthening all forms of tourism, including beach tourism, medical tourism, and leisure tourism, alongside creating a strong business environment capable of attracting international companies to invest and operate in the Egyptian market. Such measures would naturally increase demand for both residential and commercial properties.

He emphasized that the presence of foreign companies and international investments in Egypt would generate genuine demand for purchasing or leasing real estate, whether for corporate offices or employee accommodation, positively impacting the real estate market.

Khattab explained that the second condition is producing a real estate product that is genuinely exportable. Foreign investors and buyers are not interested in purchasing semi-finished residential units in new cities; instead, they seek fully completed properties built to international standards that offer strong investment or tourism value.

He noted that hotel units and seaside tourism properties represent the most successful model for real estate exports. Areas along the Red Sea, including Hurghada, Marsa Alam, and Sahl Hasheesh, are among Egypt’s most successful examples, where foreign buyers account for more than 80% of total property sales. This, he said, demonstrates that such properties represent Egypt’s most viable export-ready real estate product.

Khattab added that Egypt’s fourth-generation cities, particularly New Alamein City, offer significant opportunities for real estate exports thanks to their residential, commercial, and tourism developments built to international standards, enabling them to compete globally and attract buyers from various nationalities.

He stressed that the third—and most important—condition is the professional promotion of Egyptian real estate and Egypt as an investment destination. He noted that the success of the real estate export strategy also depends on effectively marketing Egypt’s tourism sector, investment climate, and economic opportunities.

Khattab: Property Ownership Programs Have Succeeded in Many Countries

Khattab explained that many countries, including Turkey, Greece, and Dubai, have successfully attracted millions of investors and tourists through strong marketing campaigns that presented these markets as attractive investment destinations. Egypt, he said, needs similar international promotional campaigns targeting overseas markets while highlighting the country’s competitive advantages.

He added that expanding foreign ownership of real estate is an important and positive step. However, it must be accompanied by parallel efforts to develop the tourism sector, improve the business environment, produce real estate products that meet foreign investors’ expectations, and implement a comprehensive international marketing strategy to achieve the country’s economic objectives.

Khattab noted that he had previously presented this vision during several real estate conferences when the topic of real estate exports was discussed. He stressed that the key question was never whether Egypt wanted to export real estate but rather what type of product should be exported. Foreign buyers, he explained, are unlikely to purchase semi-finished units in new cities and instead seek integrated tourism or investment properties.

He concluded that international experiences have demonstrated that successful real estate exports are closely linked to the existence of globally competitive cities that attract investment and tourism, as seen in Dubai, which has evolved into a global business and tourism hub.

Egypt, however, possesses even greater potential thanks to its extensive coastlines along both the Red Sea and the Mediterranean, providing exceptional opportunities to develop internationally competitive cities and urban communities.

Khattab pointed out that the successful experiences of Hurghada, Marsa Alam, and Sahl Hasheesh—where foreign buyers account for more than 80% of total property sales—should serve as a model for Egypt’s other emerging coastal cities. Such an approach would support the government’s strategy to increase real estate exports, boost foreign currency revenues, and achieve sustainable economic development.