Hurghada Property Contracts: A Foreign Buyer's Checklist

Verify who can sell the property

Ask for the seller's identity, the ownership documents and the chain of previous transfers. For a company, check its legal identity and the signatory's authority. Where someone signs under a power of attorney, ask your lawyer to check its scope and continuing validity rather than accepting a photocopy at face value.

The British Embassy's property-buying guidance recommends an independent lawyer, checks of the developer and verification of land ownership and building permissions. A permit to build and a right to sell a particular apartment are different questions. Ask whether a share of the underlying land is included and whether third-party rights, disputes or unpaid obligations affect the transaction.

Describe the unit and the full price precisely

The contract should identify the project, building, unit, area and the plans or specifications that form part of the agreement. Clarify whether the quoted area includes shared spaces, what fixtures are included and whether parking or storage rights are separate. Attach the documents needed to resolve any difference between the advertisement and the delivered property.

Record the currency, instalment dates, payment recipient and any charges outside the headline price. Maintenance, utilities, transfer charges and registration costs should not be left to verbal assurances. Keep bank records and receipts, and have the payment arrangement checked before transferring a deposit.

Check delivery, cancellation and remedies

For an off-plan purchase, ask for a defined delivery obligation and documented construction milestones. Discuss how incomplete works, material changes, delay and cancellation will be handled, including the notice process and any refund or compensation provisions. A clause promising compensation is not the same as a guarantee that recovery will be quick or successful.

Ask for a version you understand, with the Arabic and English texts checked together and any controlling-language provision explained. Do not assume that a translation, a witness or a stamp cures a problem in the underlying transaction. Obtain independent advice on enforceability before signing.

Separate contract signatures from registered title

Ask your lawyer to identify the available registration route for this specific property and any documents or seller cooperation still required. A validity-of-signature judgment concerns the signature; it is not a substitute for checking ownership or completing the applicable title-registration procedure.

Do not rely on an agent's promise that every unit can immediately obtain a Green Contract. Registration depends on the property's legal position and supporting documents. Put the seller's cooperation obligations in writing and ask what happens if registration cannot proceed as expected.

Keep residency decisions separate

Buying an apartment does not guarantee permission to reside in Egypt. The British Embassy expressly warns that ownership does not guarantee a residence or visit visa. Check the current immigration requirements before making a purchase primarily for residency, and do not make a contract conditional on a benefit that nobody has verified.

What to send for a contract review

Send the draft agreement, ownership documents supplied by the seller, unit plans, payment schedule and any reservation agreement or receipts. Explain whether you intend to live in the property, let it or seek residency. Law House Hurghada can assess the documents and proposed scope of work; professional fees and third-party expenses are agreed before work begins.