Millions of Egyptians remain locked out of homeownership while around two million apartments sit empty, hoarded by families as inflation-proof assets rather than homes. While over 67 percent of Egyptians, equating to 72 million at the time, own apartments, according to the World Bank in 2019, the “closed apartments” phenomenon has become a symbol of economic inequality. Latest estimates of the Egypt Residential Property Market Analysis 2025 reveal that nearly 5.6 million urban housing units in Egypt are unused, either vacant or sealed off entirely, including 2.89 million units unoccupied by families who owned another home. Weak rental markets due to lingering mistrust between landlords and tenants, generous capital gains from property value hikes, and a habit of preserving real estate as a secure investment by the affluent are a few of the various reasons why many Egyptians can not afford homes. Economically, the “closed apartments” phenomenon has created a paradox in which many properties remain unoccupied despite widespread housing insecurity, where residents lack stable and affordable homes, leaving Egypt’s surging demand for affordable housing unmet. In August 2025, President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi ratified amendments to Egypt’s old rent regime,…
Millions of Egyptians Wait as Homeownership Slips Further Away
September 15, 2025
By Nadine Tag
Journalist
