Light of Alexandria

When it comes to sunshine, history and value for money Egypt is hard to beat. For the past five years the country has not only become a top destination for tourists but also for buyers wanting to own in an exotic location not too far from the UK. With flight times of around five hours and stacks of property in Egypt for less than £100,000, Egypt is proving one of the most popular second-home hotspots.

The most sought-after destinations for property in Egypt are the resorts of the Red Sea, or what is now called the Red Sea Riviera. The largest town, Sharm el Sheikh, has seen rising numbers of expat investors in property in Egypt over the past few years, which in turn has driven up prices. It’s still possible to buy cheap apartments around the resort but getting a beachfront location is unlikely unless you’re prepared to spend at least £60,000. As a result, developers have moved to other locations, such as Hurghada, Marsa Alam and further afield.

These less-developed resorts once presented problems for buyers, due to their distance from Sharm’s airport and lack of amenities; however, there’s a new airport at Marsa Alam and another is planned for the resort of Zafarana for 2010. New development is also bringing improving infrastructure and more facilities.

“Sharm and Hurghada no longer offer such good property prices as elsewhere on the Red Sea,” says Ian Cunningham of Escapes2, which sells a variety of properties in the region. “Costs have gone up and though you can still get cheap deals they won’t be premium properties or front-line beach.”

It’s true that, if you have less to spend you’ll have to move further inland but for many people this is more than made up for by the ability to pick up studios from as little as £16,000 and two-bedroom apartments from around £30,000. City & Urban, which specialises in the region, is even selling property in Egypt starting at just £14,000 for those prepared to head 80 kilometres further north to the small resort of Dahab.

Most of the property in Egypt is in new-build complexes with a range of facilities that will usually include pools, bars and shops or maybe a spa. Many of the best bargains are to be found in areas such as Na’ama Bay and Nabq Bay, just outside Sharm’s centre. However, City & Urban has good-size, two-bedroom apartments starting at £36,000 in the El Mar resort, situated in Montazah, which it refers to as “the Mayfair” of Sharm el Sheikh and resale property in Egypt in the pretty Delta Sharm complex near Na’ama Bay for £40,000.

Individual resale and new apartments in central locations can still be found from around £50,000. However, you may need to be prepared to sacrifice the facilities and property rental opportunities provided by a big resort. If you can stretch to £80,000 you’ll find beachfront property in Egypt in areas such as Sharks Bay, though these will probably be small studios or one-bedroom units.

Ian Cunningham is very keen on the Zafarana area, not just because Escapes2 has property to sell there but because of the planned airport and its proximity to Cairo, which is under two hours away. The company is offering one-bedroom apartments from as little as £20,000 and two bedrooms from £40,000 in the Zafarana Beach Resort, with a private beach, pools and scuba club. There’s also a guaranteed rental scheme, which includes six weeks’ use and ten per cent returns per year for the first five years.  Closer to the popular town of Hurghada is the large-scale resort of Sahl Hasheesh, which is almost a country in itself with several luxury hotels, over 300 retail property outlets designed, a number of bars and restaurants plus a golf course and academy, diving club, spa and fitness facilities, a cinema and marina.

Several large developments within the purpose-built resort offer a range of properties; at the El Andalous complex, for example, properties can be yours from £66,876, which includes sea views for most owners. Nearby is the Ocean Breeze resort, also with a private beach, which has apartments starting at £56,400, and a third development called Palm Beach Piazza, designed along similarly inclusive lines with property starting at just £43,800. All are being marketed by Experience International.

Also at Sahl Hasheesh is The Pearl, selling through Gem Estates and offering apartments and villas arranged around six swimming pools and built across four islets. On site there is a health club with spa and a football academy, plus direct beach access, with properties starting at £49,800.

For those wanting a buy-to-let property in Egypt, the five-star Pyramisa Hotel, also through Gem Estates, is selling from £39,950. There’s a property rental guarantee of seven per cent gross per annum with up to eight weeks’ use per year. The benefit of owning with a company such as this is that you’ll be able to swap your weeks with other Pyramisa hotels in Cairo, Luxor and Sharm if you fancy a change of scene.

Within central Hurghada and just 230 metres from the waterfront, is the planned luxury gated community of West Side Village. Gem Estates is marketing studios priced from £19,964, to £60,000 for something larger with three bedrooms and a roof terrace. In addition to the 600-plus properties, the complex offers extensive tropical gardens, restaurants, cafes, bars, a health spa, three swimming pools and private beach access.

“Interest in property in Egypt is beginning to awaken as the world becomes aware of the investment opportunities available there,” says Steve Worboys of Experience International. “The key factors attracting overseas investors include Egypt’s fast-growing tourism sector; the fact that the government is continuing to commit to initiatives designed to enhance the investment climate; and that prices of property in Egypt remain low, while demand for quality property is increasing.”

Worboys believes resorts that have sprung up along the Red Sea, with very individual atmospheres and amenities, appeal to a variety of buyers of property in Egypt and, of course, budgets. He thinks demand for property in Egypt will continue to accelerate across the board, in line with a growth in tourist numbers.

The agent also points out that investors are taking advantage of tax incentives offered by the Egyptian government on property purchases: currently there is no stamp duty or capital gains tax and British residents can also avoid inheritance tax on any property in Egypt gifted in wills. “Egypt, and particularly the Red Sea, is where the smart money in being invested in 2008,” he says.

If pure investment, rather than a traditional holiday home is what you’re after then property in Egypt may be able to serve you well there too. Cairo and its suburbs are seeing increasing numbers of residents, as local and foreign workers move to the city, in addition to increasing numbers of city-break tourists and expat Egyptians who want to buy a base in their home country.

Escapes2’s Ian Cunningham says that it’s possible to buy apartments costing under £80,000 in central Cairo but these probably won’t be attractive to anyone who tends to prefer the Red Sea. “The Cairo buyer is someone who is maybe more middle-aged; probably professional couples rather than families and usually empty nesters who want to invest in a city-centre buy-to-let property in Egypt,” he says.

Prices for one-bedroom properties in Escapes2’s centrally located Rivoli development start at around £50,000 and Cunningham says that Cairo is shaping up for an exciting future with developers and the government pouring millions into retail, leisure and residential facilities.

For those who want a more relaxing hang out within easy reach of the city excitements and heritage sites, the company is also selling property in Egypt in the suburban community of Bitter Lakes. Their gated Six Corners development was a former hotel situated around an hour from the city and the tourist draw of the Pyramids. The refurbishment is converting the building into a range of accommodation starting at studios costing £13,000.

Property here will come with a guaranteed rental package offering around four per cent yields per annum and two months’ use each year. In the meantime, Cunningham expects tenants will be short-break tourists who like to have everything within easy reach but don’t necessarily want to be in the centre of the hectic city.

Whether you go for beachside bliss or city chaos, one thing is certain. Egypt may be rich in many things but you don’t need to be wealthy to buy property in Egypt or live here.

The Great Pyramid of Giza is the oldest tombstone on the list of the Seven Wonders of the Antique World. The Great Pyramid took about 20 years to complete, and several theories are debated by scholars as to how it was built and by whom. Some theories point to slave labor, but it seems more reasonable that Egyptians themselves lent their efforts, working during the times of year when the Nile was flooded and their farm work would not have been possible. It would have been a sort of civil service. Sphinx is an image of a recumbent lion with a human head invented by the Egyptians of the Old Kingdom, and is a cultural import in Greek mythology. Sakkara is one of the most wide archaeological sites in Egypt! It was the burial ground for Memphis, the capital of Ancient Egypt, yet it is still one of the virgin archaeological sites, despite the fact that so much has already been found here! The Egyptian museums describe the history and historical events of Egypt.

Mohamed Ali Mosque is surrounded by the most attractive Mosques in Egypt. It stands proudly on the highest point inside the courtyard of the Citadel of Saladin, and is also called the Alabaster Mosque. The architect was Yousf Boushnaq, a Turkish man who had come over from Istanbul to construct this huge Mosque for Mohamed Ali, the ruler of Egypt from1805 until 1849. He based his strategy on the Sultan Ahamed Mosque in Istanbul, and the building began in 1830 A.D. The work sustained ceaselessly until the death of Mohamed Ali in 1849, and had to be over during the reign of his successors.

Construction of the Abu Simbel Temple complex started in approximately 1284 BC and lasted for circa 20 years, until 1264 BC. Their purpose was to impress Egypt’s southern neighbors, and also to support the status of Egyptian religion in the region. This is the great temple of Abu Simbel, dedicated to the glory of pharao Ramses II. Philae Island was a rocky island in the middle of the River Nile, south of Aswan. It was called in Hieroglyphic “Apo” which means Ivory. It was also known by the Greek “Elephantine”, most likely because it was an important centre of trade, especially for ivory.

Right-travel is one of the most important archaeological sites in the world. It is much more than what we refer to as the Valley of the Kings, though many have called the whole of the area by that name. The Egyptian faith that “To speak the name of the dead is to make him live again” is surely carried out in the building of the tombs. The king’s formal names and titles are inscribed in his tomb along with his images and statues.

The temple of Karnak was known as Ipet-isut (Most select of places) and was devoted to the Theben triad of Amen, Mut and Khonsu. It is actually a complex of three main temples, smaller enclosed temples, and several outer temples. This vast complex was built and enlarged over a thirteen hundred year period. Karnak is the biggest temple complex in the world, covering an area of 100 hectares.

Luxor Temple is a large Ancient Egyptian temple complex located on the east bank of the River Nile in the city today known as Luxor. Many festivals were celebrated in Thebes. The Temple of Luxor was the center of the most important one, the festival of Opet. Built largely by Amenhotep III and Ramesses II, it appears that the temple’s purpose was for a suitable setting for the rituals of the festival. The festival itself was to reconcile the human aspect of the ruler with the divine office.

Are you looking to take a holiday where the sun shines? If so, you may want to consider Egypt and Dubai. Many people are not aware of what wonderful tourist attractions these two countries have to offer. This article will help you plan your next holiday in one of these amazing two countries.

Egypt Holidays

Egypt is located in north Africa. The best time to visit is during our fall months. The weather is moderate and the prices are low. You could travel to Egypt by boat, plane, or car, depending on where you are located. Egypt is a modern Arab country, and can accomodate all of your Western needs. It has great hotels and resorts for any price range.

One of the main things people travel to Egypt for are the well known pyramids. You could take a donkey, camel, or horse ride into the desert to visit these wonderful buildings. There are many services there that will offer you tours of the pyramids and fill you in on the great history Egypt has to offer.

If you are traveling to Egypt, there is much more to see than just the pyramids. Egypt holidays can be weeks filled with beaches and sunshine. They offer many different beaches and five star resorts. You could even get a holiday package that will take you on a tour of Egypt. From the ancient pyramids to the modern beaches, Egypt is one country that has something for everyone.

Dubai Holidays

Dubai is located in the gulf area. It is one of the richest countries in the world that is filled with great architecture and beautiful scenery. It is a country that is mixed with many different cultures. From deserts, to museums, to the great buildings, there are many things to do when you take holiday in Dubai. Even though Dubai is a small country, it has many different places to stay. In fact, you could find hundreds of Dubai hotels that really treat their tourist right.

Whether you are looking to travel to Dubai or Egypt, it is easy to plan Egypt and Dubai holidays online. You could read reviews, find hotels, and even pick out the sites you want to see all in the convenience of your own home. You will be able to get a picture of what each country has to offer.

Egypt is known for its rich heritage that includes attractions like the pyramids and the ancient temples. It is even considered to be a place of pilgrimage for people from Christian and other religious communities. Here you find the pleasures of scuba-diving, desert safaris, fishing, and golf playing. Red Sea Egypt is regarded as the best place for relaxation for people who visit Egypt. Red Sea Egypt is also the Sinai coasts with its coves, beaches and natural or religious sites. Sti-travel can guide you on all that needs to be done or seen in and around the place.Red Sea Egypt is known for its mountain ranges that are red and mineral-rich in its contents. Mariners visiting the coast of the Red Sea name the sea as Mare Rostrum. The Red Sea of Egypt is famous for its rich coral reefs and teeming underwater life Red Sea ports are the departure points for snorkeling, diving and fishing excursions.The Red Sea Egypt is located on the eastern coast of Mainland Egypt that borders this sea and the shores of the Sinai Peninsula. Hurghada and Sharm-el-Sheikh are two coast cities that should not be missed. Sti-Travel can arrange wonderful vacations to these scenic beach resorts with a direct international flight to Cairo, and a short internal flight to Sharm or Hurghada – or overland by car or bus.The weather of Red Sea Egypt remains moderate throughout the year, with calm shores, which makes the journey to the sea a wonderful experience. Many hotels are available on or near the beach offering comfortable accommodation with all basic, modern amenities. Red Sea Egypt also boasts of professional and fully equipped diving centers and certified divers to help you out in your diving attempts or take you to incredible diving sites.Other tourist attractions of Red Sea Egypt are the monasteries of St. Anthony and St. Paul, the Monastery of St Catherine & Mount Moses, the Colored Canyon, desert safaris and more. Further information regarding Red Sea Egypt, Egypt & Red Sea Tour, Luxury Nile Cruise, Egypt Hurghada, Egypt Tour Packages, and Egypt Hotel Hurghada can be obtained from the site of sti-travel.com.

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