Benvenuto a Sharm El Sheikh Properties
Legal Advice
Legal Advice on Buying and Registering Property in Sharm El Sheikh
Process for registration of 99 years leasehold at El Tur city within (3 to 6 months):
Present the documents at the registered office at El Tur City.
The registered office sends the documents to Cairo central registration office for foreigners
After verification, they send the documents back to El Tur City.
Documents are stamped.
El Tur city is located 60 miles from Sharm El Sheikh.
Advantages of buying property in Sharm El Sheikh:
Tax breaks (no stamp duty)
No capital gain tax on resale
No sales tax
Low death succession duty 7% (to transfer property ownership)
Tax benefits (extremely low taxes)
Banks: easy to open accounts and transfer funds
0% tax on bank interest.
There are 3 types of registration in El Tur city and all of them will give you a blue/green stamped document:
A preliminary sale contract cannot be registered for foreigners buying properties in Sharm El Sheikh.
Contract validity which proves ownership (like registration for Egyptians) only for Egyptians
Signature validity does not grant ownership but grants the validity of the signatures on the document and it is a form of legal protection (which is commonly used for foreigners).
Frequently asked questions about buying a property in Egypt:
1-What are the potential problems of buying property in Egypt?
The property registry in Egypt is out of date and incomplete, and many believe that only 10% of the properties in Egypt are actually registered. Naturally, this can create a problem for the property investor. However, resorts like Sharm El Sheikh are far more geared up for the international property market. Furthermore, those considering investing in property in Sharm El Sheikh would be wise to do so through an established and reputable estate agent. In Egypt, Freehold registered properties for foreigners cannot be sold for the first 5 years from the date of registry (which does not apply in Sharm El Sheikh only 99 years usufruct Right according to Prime MinisterDecree 548).
2-Will I need a local lawyer?
In a country where real estate registration issues are as complex as in Egypt, it is really critical to have a lawyer conduct search and advise on the legality of the purchase, even if you are buying a brand new property from a well-established developer, who can register only after the project is completely built through a document called Dedication Resolution (Karar Takhsees).
3- Will I be able to mortgage?
Local mortgages are almost impossible to obtain, so you will need to fund the purchases yourself or via the same country mortgage. All the Off Plan properties with strong reputable developers are INTEREST-FREE and financed for a minimum average of 3 years.
Good Advice
There is no restriction on selling before completion naturally; you need to be prepared to wait for the property to be completed before you can move in. Sharm El Sheikh Properties' customer care team will keep you updated on the progress of your property at all times. There’s always a Sharm El Sheikh Properties representative to answer your questions. There is no restriction on selling properties before completion except in the same contract. If you intend to sell on before completion rather than move in yourself or let the property, don’t overstretch yourself – just in case you eventually decide not to sell off-plan and end up keeping the property. Sharm El Sheikh Properties Services will take care of you and your investment.
Where can I find more information on Egypt?
Embassy of Egypt
26 South Street, London W1K 1DW
Tel.: +44 20 74993304/2401
www.egypt.embassyhomepage.com
British Embassy Cairo
7 Ahmed Ragheb Street
Garden City, Cairo
Tel.: +20 0 (0)227940852
www.britishembassy.gov.uk/egypt
New Decree
For Egyptians 99 years usufruct right (Leasehold) in Sharm El Sheikh and Sinai Prime Minister’s Decree number (350) of 2007
The Prime Minister
After perusing the constitution and perusing:
Law no. 143 of 1981 concerning desert lands;
Law no. 7 of 1991 concerning the state private properties;
Law no. 4 of 1994 concerning environmental protection;
Law no. 230 of 1996 concerning the regulation of foreigners’ ownership of built properties and empty land plots;
Law no. 94 of 2005 concerning amending some regulations for joint-stock companies, limited partnership stock companies, and limited liability companies, originally stipulated in law no. 159 of 1981, and the law of investment guarantees and incentives originally stipulated in law no. 8 of 1997;
President’s Decree no. 560 of 1986, concerning securing the neighboring area to the western borders of Egypt;
President’s Decree no. 413 of 1988 concerning securing the neighboring area to the southern borders of Egypt, amended by president’s decree no.99 of 1999;
President’s Decree no. 152 of 2001, concerning securing the eastern borders of Egypt;
President’s Decree no. 152 of 2001 concerning fixation of strategic desert areas with military importance;
President’s Decree no. 153 of 2001 concerning the establishment of The National Institution for Planning the State’s Lands Usage;
President’s Decree no. 154 of 2001 concerning fixation of state lands usage until 2017;
Prime Minister’s Decree no. 731 of 2004 entitling the military landscape department to prepare the required database for land plots needed for the various activities of the ministries concerned, among the map of investment opportunities;
Prime Minister’s Decree no. 548 of 2005 concerning foreigners’ rights of freehold and usufruct in certain areas of Egypt;
Defense and Military Production Minister’s Decree no. 146 of 2002 elucidates the terms and conditions required for the state defense in desert areas, concerning institutions stipulated in law no. 143 of 1981, and law no. 7 of 1991;
Article (1)
With no violation of legal acts which have taken place before the enforceability of law no. 94 of 205 abovementioned, companies and institutions preserve the right to own land plots and properties needed for either establishing their activities, or elaboration of the said activities. This is regardless of the nationalities of partners and contributors, their locations, their percentages of partnership, and their contribution to the capital, EXCEPT FOR THE LAND PLOTS AND PROPERTIES SPECIFIED IN ARTICLES (2) AND (3).
Article (2)
Companies and institutions are granted, neither the freehold right nor the usufruct right on land plots and properties in the following zones:
Strategic zones with military significance are specified in President’s Decree no. 152 of 2001 based on law no. 7 of 1991 aforementioned in the preamble.
Neighboring zones to the areas used to secure the state international borders of Egypt:
a. Western borders according to the President’s Decree no. 560 of 1986.
b. Southern borders according to the President’s Decree no. 413 of 1988.
c. Eastern borders according to the President’s Decree no. 298 of 1995
Islands of the Mediterranean Sea and of the Red Sea.
Archaeological (Monumental) zones and their security zones.
Natural Protected Areas.
Red Sea campus, Mediterranean Sea campus, and Suez Canal campus, according to environment law no. 4 of 1994 abovementioned.
Roads of all types and campuses of these roads, according to the roads law no. 84 of 1968 abovementioned.
Article (3)
Companies and institutions are not granted the freehold right on land plots and properties in the Sinai Peninsula, and these land plots and properties are included in the geographical zone of Suez Governorate, Ismailia Governorate, and Port Said Governorate.
Article (4)
Except for the land plots aforementioned in Article (2), companies and institutions can utilize the land plots and properties in the Sinai Peninsula by means of USUFRUCT ONLY, and according to the following terms and conditions:
Articulation of a limited period usufruct contract (One year – 99 years) between the usufructuary and the institution owning the land, according to the activity. This usufruct period is renewable upon agreement between the usufructuary and the landlord.
Before obtaining the dedication resolution, and before concluding the usufruct contract, the usufructuary must obtain the needed approvals from (Ministry of Defense – Ministry of Internal Affairs “Police” – National Security Institution – The concerned governorate).
After the usufruct period is finished, the land plot subject of usufruct and the establishments built on them get automatically transferred to the original landlord.
Article (5)
the state utilities and institutions, each to their realm of concern, shall implement this decree with coordination between them and the competent authorities.
Article (6)
this resolution is effective from the day of publishing it in the official newspaper. This decree nullifies any other decree which is non-compliant with its terms and conditions.