Egypt’s ambitious presidential housing initiative, “Housing for All Egyptians”, has transformed from an aspirational policy into one of the largest social housing programs in the Middle East, with 1.72 million housing units currently under implementation over the past decade, according to officials.
Speaking at a high-level ceremony celebrating 10 years of the initiative, Mai Abdel Hamid, CEO of the Social Housing and Mortgage Finance Fund, said that more than 790,000 housing units have already been delivered to low-income citizens, fundamentally reshaping access to affordable housing across the country.
The event was attended by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, senior government officials, and representatives from the World Bank Group and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), reflecting the international significance of Egypt’s housing model.
From Vision to Reality: A Decade of Social Housing in Egypt
Since its launch in 2014, Egypt’s social housing program has aimed to provide safe, affordable, and dignified housing for low- and middle-income families as part of a broader strategy to improve quality of life and promote social stability.
“What was once a distant dream has become a lived reality for millions of Egyptians,” Abdel Hamid said, emphasizing that the program evolved far beyond its original target of one million housing units.
Today:
- 1.72 million units are under execution
- 242,000 units are in various construction phases
- 40,000 new units are currently being offered in the latest housing announcements
All projects include essential infrastructure and services such as schools, hospitals, transportation networks, and utilities, forming fully integrated urban communities.
Who Benefits: Targeted Support for Low-Income Egyptians
The program has reached 687,000 beneficiaries, the vast majority of whom are low-income citizens:
- 667,000 low-income beneficiaries
- 20,000 middle-income beneficiaries
Beneficiaries come from diverse employment backgrounds:
- 48% private sector
- 28% government employees
- 24% self-employed
Women account for 25% of total beneficiaries, reflecting policies designed to ensure gender equity in housing access, while 75% are men.
Notably, 85% of housing projects were built in new cities, easing congestion in older urban centers and supporting planned urban expansion.
Massive State Support: Subsidies Cover Up to 60% of Unit Value
Abdel Hamid revealed that state support for housing units ranges between 50% and 60% of their total value, delivered through a smart subsidy model that includes:
- Direct cash subsidies
- Land and infrastructure support
- Interest rate subsidies on mortgage financing
So far:
- EGP 10.4 billion has been disbursed as direct cash support
- Total housing subsidies reached EGP 27 billion
The Ministry of Finance covers the difference between market interest rates and subsidized mortgage rates, enabling long-term affordability without overburdening households.
Record-Breaking Construction Rates
The scale of construction under the Social Housing Fund has surpassed previous decades combined.
- 1976–2005: 383,000 government housing units
- 2005–2014: 1.25 million units (45,000 units annually)
- 2015–2025: 1.5 million units (150,000 units annually)
“This means the fund has tripled Egypt’s annual rate of government-built housing,” Abdel Hamid said.
Today, social housing units represent 53% of all government-built housing nationwide.
World Bank Partnership and Global Recognition
The World Bank has played a pivotal role as a strategic partner, providing institutional, technical, and financial support that enhanced governance, efficiency, and scalability.
Thanks to this collaboration, the program has:
- Expanded financial inclusion
- Increased banking sector participation
- Built strong institutional credibility
International organizations—including the World Bank, IFC, African Union of Housing, and African Association for Public Administration—have praised Egypt’s housing model, which has been selected among top global social housing initiatives.
Egypt is now exporting its expertise, offering a reference financing model to Arab and African countries seeking scalable, sustainable housing solutions.
Social Impact: Jobs, Inclusion, and Urban Stability
Beyond housing, the initiative has become a driver of economic development:
- Nearly 4 million direct and indirect jobs created
- Strong stimulus to construction, manufacturing, and services
The program adopts positive discrimination policies to support women, people with disabilities, and informal workers, while ensuring social cohesion by integrating social, middle-income, and upscale housing within the same urban fabric.
Toward Green and Sustainable Housing
Looking ahead, the fund is implementing 40,000 green housing units, applying energy- and water-efficient building standards that reduce utility costs and support environmental sustainability.
“These units offer better quality of life at a lower long-term cost,” Abdel Hamid noted.
A Model for the Future
Concluding her remarks, Abdel Hamid stressed that the success of the program lies in targeted subsidies, strong governance, and institutional planning.
“Over ten years, we proved that housing can move from a slogan to a tangible reality,” she said.
“We are not just building housing units—we are building a more stable future for the Egyptian citizen.”
