On the basis of sustainable structural reforms, Egypt is now thrusting its way towards a market economy. It has a population of around 80 million, the highest of any Arab country. Impressive real economic growth in recent years (approx. 7% in 2006) and a breathtaking increase in direct foreign investments of around 34 % in just 1 year to a total of US $ 6 billion confirm the wisdom of the steps taken to date. (The World Economic Forum (WEF) ranked Egypt amongst the TOP 7 countries worldwide in terms of improvements in the investment climate.)

In view of its vast natural gas resources, the country is expected to become one of the leading suppliers of liquid gas to European countries. Egypt’s main trade partners are still the USA and Europe. Other growth industries in the country include the building sector and tourism.

Owing to steadily improving infrastructure connections to all European countries (flight time of 3 – 5 hours) and guaranteed sunshine all year round, the tourist trade is meanwhile the major source of foreign exchange, with some 9 million tourists visiting the country every year. Approx. 1 million of these tourists come from the United Kingdom, Germany and Italy, with the UK showing the highest growth rates (+23 %). The target figure for 2014 is approx. 16 million tourists and 22 millions for 2020, a figure which impressively demonstrates the future demand for property in Egypt, especially in the tourist resorts beside the Red Sea. It is also an attractive indicator for the potential appreciation in the value of properties in high-class location.