# Property Attorneys in Egypt — Buyer Guide for Foreign Investors

> Buying property in Egypt as a non-resident is doable. The paperwork is not.
> This guide covers what an attorney handles, how to choose one, typical fees, and the red flags that should make you walk away.
> https://gounarealty.com/attorneys

> **We do not list specific firms.** As an aggregator we cannot vet every attorney. Ask the listing agency you are working with for their preferred legal partner, then apply the criteria below.

## When you need an attorney

Common situations where a property attorney saves you from costly mistakes:

- **Contract review before signing** — Arabic legal language is dense, and assumptions made on a translation can cost you later.
- **Title verification for the seller** — Confirms the seller owns what they claim to sell, and whether there are encumbrances.
- **Off-plan deposits** — Protect deposits when buying from a developer before completion.
- **Inheritance planning** — Egyptian succession rules differ from common-law and EU systems.
- **Disputes with developers or co-owners** — The attorney handles formal correspondence and litigation.
- **Non-resident transactions** — Power of Attorney drafting, foreign-buyer registration, currency-transfer paperwork.

## What attorneys handle

A typical property attorney engagement in Egypt covers five workstreams:

- **Due-diligence** — Title search, encumbrance check, building-permit verification, and Orascom-phase confirmation for El Gouna properties.
- **Contract translation** — Side-by-side Arabic + English (or your language) so you sign what you actually understand.
- **Power of Attorney** — Drafted with narrow scope, notarised, and revocable. Lets the attorney sign on your behalf for specific acts.
- **Registration + handover** — Real-estate registration at the local notary, key-handover, and utility transfer.
- **Escrow + payment** — Holds buyer funds in a regulated client account until completion conditions are met.

## How to choose an attorney

Five criteria you should be able to verify before signing the engagement:

1. **Bar-registered + verifiable** — Active membership of the Egyptian Bar Association, with the senior attorney name and registration number provided in writing.
2. **Foreign-buyer experience** — Demonstrable closings with non-resident buyers under Decree 230/1996 (freehold) and 99-year leasehold structures.
3. **Real-estate specialisation** — Not a generalist firm. Property law in Egypt has its own quirks: co-ownership, condominium rules, beach-front zoning.
4. **English working language** — Senior attorney communicates fluently in English. German, Russian, Italian, or French as a bonus depending on your background.
5. **Transparent fee structure** — Written flat-fee or capped percentage. No success-fee on the property price, which can incentivise the wrong things.

## Typical fees and timelines

| Item | Figure | Notes |
|------|-------:|-------|
| **From** | $1,500 | flat-fee, simple resale |
| **Up to** | $5,000 | off-plan, milestone payments |
| **Resale closing** | 8 weeks | from signed contracts |

Fees for foreign-buyer property transactions in Egypt typically range from approximately USD 1,500 to USD 5,000. Off-plan transactions with milestone payments sit at the higher end. The flat-fee usually includes due-diligence, contract review, translation, registration support, and one Power of Attorney draft.

Timelines for a straightforward resale transaction run from three to eight weeks once contracts are signed. Off-plan transactions extend over the build period and can stretch to two or three years. Confirm what is included in the fee and what counts as a scope-extension before you commit.

## Red flags to avoid

If any of these come up during your first conversation, walk away.

- **No bar registration number** — Or refuses to provide it in writing when you ask.
- **Cash-only fees** — No invoice, no receipts, no paper trail.
- **No written engagement letter** — Scope and fee should be defined before work starts.
- **Pressure tactics** — Pushing you to sign within 48 hours without time to review.
- **Acts for the seller too** — The same lawyer representing both sides is a conflict of interest.

## Power of Attorney explained

A Power of Attorney lets your appointed lawyer sign documents on your behalf when you are not physically in Egypt. It must be notarised, and the scope must be defined narrowly — for example limited to one specific property and one transaction.

A broad open-ended Power of Attorney is risky. Define the property, define the acts the attorney may sign for, define an expiry date, and keep a copy. The Power of Attorney is revocable at any time with formal notification.

## Common questions

**Do you need an attorney to buy property in Egypt?**
Legally not required, but strongly recommended for non-resident buyers. Title verification, contract translation, and registration are technical steps where mistakes are expensive to fix later.

**What does a property attorney in Egypt typically charge?**
Typical fees range from approximately USD 1,500 to USD 5,000 per transaction. Flat-fee engagements are more common for non-resident buyers than hourly billing. Confirm scope and fee in writing before signing.

**Can you use a Power of Attorney to buy property in Egypt?**
Yes. A notarised Power of Attorney lets your appointed attorney sign on your behalf when you are not physically in Egypt. The scope must be defined narrowly and the document is revocable.

**How do you verify an Egyptian attorney is licensed?**
Check membership of the Egyptian Bar Association. Ask for the firm name, the senior attorney name, and bar registration details in writing. Cross-check with the Bar lookup where available.

## Connecting with an attorney

Gouna Realty is an aggregator. We index listings from multiple sources, we do not act as a broker, and we do not refer specific lawyers. The simplest route: pick a property, message the listing agency on WhatsApp, and ask for their preferred legal partner. Then apply the criteria on this page before you sign.

Questions about the buying process? Email hello@gounarealty.com.

## Privacy

Gouna Realty does not store attorney-client correspondence. Legal enquiries go directly to the attorney intake; we never see, store, or process privileged communications.

## Pillar pages

- [Buy](https://gounarealty.com/buy) — foreign-buyer journey + 7-step process
- [Buyer guide](https://gounarealty.com/buyer-guide) — comprehensive (deep-dive)
- [Financing](https://gounarealty.com/financing) — installment plans + developer schemes
- [Press](https://gounarealty.com/press) — media + announcements

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*Source: gounarealty.com. Editorial voice — concrete numbers, no exclamation marks. Multi-locale (EN/NL/AR/RU/DE).*