Allowing foreigners to own real estate in Saudi Arabia does not pose a direct threat to the attractiveness of Egypt’s real estate market. The Egyptian market is based on genuine demand resulting from housing gaps and geographic diversity that grant it an investment advantage.
In contrast, regulatory changes in Saudi Arabia are raising regional quality standards and supporting competition in exporting Egyptian real estate, according to six experts and real estate officials.
Tarek Eid, CEO of Arabian Group Kuwait, believes the Saudi decision strengthens the integration of real estate as a global capital asset and pushes Egyptian developers to improve quality. He also sees foreign ownership of properties in religious areas in Saudi Arabia as an “emotional investment” with no major impact on the Egyptian market.
Hany El Assal, founder of Misr Italia Group, confirms that the Egyptian real estate market is characterized by strong stability and relies on actual demand. He points out that Egypt possesses a long coastline that has not yet been fully exploited for investment purposes, which enhances the competitiveness of its real estate as a destination for safe and sustainable investment.
Shams El Din Youssef, Chairman of El Shams Contracting Company, rules out the possibility of investment migration toward Saudi Arabia, noting that cultural and climatic diversity make real estate investment in Egypt more attractive to foreign buyers.
Ahmed Ehab, CEO of Madar for Real Estate Development, believes that each market has its own drivers and that demand in Egypt is independent and will maintain its share despite the opening of the Saudi market. Competition, he says, may instead be with similar Gulf markets in terms of investment patterns.
Ayman Sami, Head of JLL Egypt, believes that Saudi Arabia’s entry as a new regional player will intensify competition, but that lifestyle remains the main attraction factor. He explains that demand in the Egyptian market exceeds current supply, which requires improving real estate products to deal with international buyers.
Osama Saad El Din, Executive Director of the Real Estate Development Chamber at the Federation of Egyptian Industries, points out that the Egyptian market is focused on strong domestic and external demand.
The Saudi decision may only affect a small segment seeking ownership for religious purposes. He stresses the importance of enhancing credibility and providing products that align with the expectations of foreign buyers—such as hotel apartments and standalone villas—to achieve a boom in real estate exports.
