Egypt

Egypt is a country rich in history, full of wonder, popular with tourists and increasingly attractive to overseas property buyers. Its wealth of attractions proves a rather intoxicating and appealing combination; the weather is hot, sunny and dry for most of the year, its beaches are some of the most stunning in the northern hemisphere, its people are warm and friendly and its scenery – including the awe-inspiring Pyramids – is both breathtakingly beautiful and completely unique.

Getting to Egypt is extremely easy and increasingly cost-effective, too. The country’s location on the cusp of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa lends it a number of cultural and financial influences, making it one of the most developed tourist and property epicentres in North Africa, while also remaining one of the most exotic destinations available on the short-haul from Europe. Popular destinations include Sharm El Sheikh on the Sinai Peninsula, Luxor and Hurghada on the Red Sea.

Capital: Cairo
Population: 75,042,000
Time: GMT +2
Dialing: 20
Currency: Egyptian Pound (EGP)

Climate: Egypt’s climate is invariably hot and dry throughout the country, remaining this way for much of the year; rainfall averages just 2mm per year, sometimes at an interval of two to three years. The inland areas are basically the edges of the Sahara desert and so average temperatures are in excess of 100ºf. The Sinai Peninsula sees snow on its mountains in winter, while the Mediterranean coastline has a classic Mediterranean climate of hot summers and mild winters. The Red Sea coast enjoys hot weather in the summer and averages 70ºf in the winter.

Getting There: It takes approximately five hours to fly to Egypt from much of the UK. Most of the UK’s larger airports have regular scheduled flights, particularly Gatwick, Heathrow, Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh. The main international airports in Egypt are Cairo, Luxor and Sharm El Sheikh and the main budget carriers are easyJet, XL, Thomsonfly and Fly Thomas Cook.

Special Features: Egypt is the most populous Arab country; Cairo is one of the most densely populated cities in the world (3,820 people per square mile); The Great Pyramid is the only survivor from the original Seven Wonders of the World.

Buying Property in Egypt: With such a fantastic climate that is only a five hour flight from the UK and even less from much of Northern Europe, it was only a matter of time before Egypt became a popular destination for overseas property buyers and investors. Its climate is matched by its natural and man-made beauty: there are few sights to rival the majestic Pyramids, the hustle and bustle of Cairo or the hues of red that dramatically paint the sky as sun sets over the Nile.

This appeal, coupled with an ever-improving infrastructure, cheaper flights, a stable government and low property prices makes Egypt an extremely attractive investment destination. The forerunner for overseas investors is the resort of Sharm el Sheikh on the Sinai Peninsula, which has its own airport, a well-developed transport network, a plethora of luxury and budget properties and a way of life that has embraced tourists and ex-pats. However, the resort of Hurghada – one the Red Sea coast and hemmed in by the Nile – is rapidly taking shape, with a number of developments springing up there, many frontline to the beach where two bedroom apartments can retail for as little as €110,000.