At the International Housing Show 2025 in Nigeria, May Abdel Hamid, CEO of Egypt’s Social Housing and Mortgage Finance Fund, presented Egypt’s acclaimed social housing model as a scalable solution for African nations aiming to deliver affordable, sustainable housing for low- and middle-income populations.
Held from July 27 to August 1, 2025, the international gathering brought together housing ministers, development leaders, and policy experts from across the African continent. High-profile attendees included Nigeria’s Minister of Housing and Urban Development Ahmed Musa Dangwa, and Nasser Issa, Chair of Nigeria’s National Population Commission.
A Replicable African Success Story in Social Housing
During her address, Abdel Hamid outlined the “Housing for All Egyptians” program, one of the largest government-subsidized housing initiatives in the Middle East and Africa. To date, the program has successfully provided decent housing for more than 650,000 citizens across Egypt.
Abdel Hamid emphasized that Egypt’s model prioritizes equity and targeting, applying standardized eligibility criteria for applicants aged 21 to 50 who have not previously owned property. The program offers direct cash subsidies up to EGP 160,000, depending on income levels, and has provided over EGP 10 billion in down payment support to low-income beneficiaries. Including subsidies on financing and infrastructure, the total support can reach 50–60% of the unit’s cost.
Beyond Housing: Building Integrated Urban Communities
More than just constructing homes, the program focuses on building complete urban communities. Abdel Hamid detailed how 1,170 service projects have been developed in new residential areas—including hospitals, schools, markets, places of worship, and social clubs—ensuring residents enjoy a high quality of life with easy access to daily services.
Connectivity between new housing zones and major urban centers has also improved, thanks to smart transportation networks developed in coordination with Egypt’s New Urban Communities Authority. Mobile apps now provide real-time public transport data, reducing commute times and enhancing access to jobs and services.
Innovative Financing and Financial Inclusion
In response to housing finance challenges, Egypt has launched innovative mortgage initiatives in partnership with the Central Bank of Egypt and the Ministry of Finance. Abdel Hamid highlighted the subsidized interest rates of 8% for low-income and 12% for middle-income groups, which significantly ease repayment burdens.
To promote financial inclusion, the program works with 31 banks and mortgage finance companies, providing nearly EGP 88 billion in housing finance and successfully integrating 65% of its beneficiaries into Egypt’s formal financial system.
Green and Digital: A Sustainable and Transparent Approach
Egypt is also pioneering green affordable housing, with over 55,000 eco-friendly units planned. Already, 25,000 units have been certified under the Green Pyramid Rating System (GPRS), while another 14,000 units are undergoing certification under EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies). These homes are designed to reduce energy and water consumption, aligning with Egypt’s climate and sustainability goals.
On the digital front, the housing fund has fully automated its application process, dramatically reducing wait times, increasing transparency, and improving service delivery to beneficiaries.
Africa-Wide Potential
Abdel Hamid concluded by stating that Egypt’s social housing model is highly adaptable to the African context, offering a powerful blueprint that combines government support, innovative financing, integrated urban planning, and digital transformation. She also highlighted opportunities for Egyptian construction firms to partner with other African nations in delivering low-cost, high-quality housing at scale.
