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HUJJAحجةHUJJA — law firm
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Real Estate & Construction

Acquisition, development, registration, leasing and construction contracts — including the registration problems that most Egyptian property carries.

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Lead partner

Tarek Mansour

Tarek Mansour

Partner — Real Estate & Construction

Real Estate & Construction · Dispute Resolution & Arbitration

Arabic · English

Portrait pending

What we do

  • Title investigation and registration at the Real Estate Publicity Department
  • Sale and purchase contracts for land and units
  • Development agreements and revenue-share structures
  • FIDIC and bespoke construction contracts
  • Leases: commercial, retail and long-term
  • Off-plan sales documentation and escrow
  • Owners’ association formation and management
  • Construction claims, delay and variation disputes

How a matter runs

  1. 01

    What we do

    Title investigation: we trace the chain of ownership and tell you what is registered and what is not.

    What you provide

    The seller’s documents and the property’s details.

    Typical duration

    1–3 weeks

  2. 02

    What we do

    We report the risk plainly — including when our advice is not to proceed.

    What you provide

    Your tolerance for an unregistered title, which is a commercial decision.

    Typical duration

    2–4 days

  3. 03

    What we do

    Contract drafting and negotiation, with payment tied to registration milestones.

    What you provide

    Decisions on price, payment structure and handover date.

    Typical duration

    2–5 weeks

  4. 04

    What we do

    Registration. This is the stage that takes longest and the one most buyers skip.

    What you provide

    Powers of attorney and presence at the notary when required.

    Typical duration

    3–12 months depending on the property’s history

What it typically costs

What it typically costs — Real Estate & Construction
StructureIndicative band
Fixed fee — title investigationBefore you pay a deposit. This is the cheapest money you will spend on the transaction.EGP 8,000 – 25,000
Percentage of value — sale and registrationContract through to registration, quoted as a percentage with a floor and a cap.0.5% – 1.5% of property value
HourlyFor matters whose shape is not known at the outset. We agree a cap before starting.Partner EGP 3,500–5,500 · Associate EGP 1,200–2,200 per hour

What moves the number

  • Whether the property is registered — an unregistered chain multiplies the work
  • Whether the land is state-allocated, reclaimed or subject to a co-operative
  • The number of heirs or co-owners who must sign
  • Whether a construction dispute is already live

These are indicative ranges, published so you can budget before you call. A fixed quote follows the first meeting, once we know the facts. Fees are agreed in writing before any work begins.

Questions we're asked

The seller says the unit is “registered”. How do I check?

Ask for the registration number and the date, then we verify it at the Real Estate Publicity Department. A contract stamped at the notary (شهر عقاري) is not the same as a registered title, and the distinction is where most disputes start.

Can a foreigner buy property in Egypt?

Yes, with limits on the number of properties, the total area, and certain locations including parts of Sinai. Agricultural land is a separate and more restricted question.

The developer is two years late. What are my options?

Read the contract’s delay clause first — many cap compensation at a level well below your actual loss. Options are usually: enforce the delay penalty, claim rescission with a refund plus compensation, or negotiate a revised handover with security. Which is best depends on whether the project will finish at all.

What is the real cost of registration?

Registration fees are capped by law at a modest figure. The real costs are the corrective steps a property’s history usually requires first — surveys, missing signatures, heirs’ declarations. We estimate those before you commit.

Do you act for developers or for buyers?

Both, never on the same project. Conflict check first, always.

Is an off-plan reservation form binding?

Often more binding than buyers expect, and usually drafted to favour the developer. Have it reviewed before you sign — it is a short document and a short review.

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