Africa Construction

The long-term determinants of the real estate market in Cairo are governed by two main factors – the housing needs of the young and growing population, and the clogged, chaotic core of the city with its aging building stock. It has long been the case that Cairo cannot take the pressure of the millions who live and work there, and these factors...

Low-cost housing is an underserved real estate segment that is likely to get more attention in 2012 and beyond. This is where the bulk of demand lies, and was one of the sources of revolutionary fervour in January and February 2011. In addition to the resignation of Hosni Mubarak, the country’s former president, and his government, many protestors...

The long-term fundamentals in Egypt are very attractive in just about every sector, and construction is no exception. A demographic bulge and current needs mandate upgrades in housing stock, office towers, retail and commercial space, infrastructure and otherwise. The contracting market has two major players, one each in the public and private...

The aftermath of the resignation of Hosni Mubarak, Egypt’s former president, hit many sectors hard. Banks closed, tourists fled, stock trading halted and retailers were left with empty shelves. In the year and a half since, the country has begun to regain its economic footing, though it still grapples with weak growth, low foreign exchange reserves...

Large-scale demand and a shortage of supply in most segments has been the recent story of Egypt’s real estate sector. However, the disruptive impacts of the revolution in early 2011 led to delayed projects, cancelled bookings for off-plan purchases and quashed or downsized expansion plans.

Demand was surprisingly buoyant for construction materials in Egypt in 2011. The revolution that began on January 25 of the year caused multiple delays and cast uncertainty on several major construction projects in the private sector, and across most areas of the economy new ventures were put on hold.