Madbouly Announces Four-Year Housing Programme With Rental, Social and Middle-Income Units

Masari Team

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said the government is preparing a major housing programme that combines rental units, social housing and middle-income homes, with units to be built and delivered over the next four years. According to Ahram Online, Daily News Egypt and Egypt Today, all reporting on 21 October 2026, President El-Sisi will launch and announce the programme himself. Here is what was actually said, what is still unknown, and what it means if you are buying or renting in New Damietta.

What the prime minister said

Madbouly spoke at a session on market regulation and social protection on the third day of Egypt Forum 2026. The three reports agree on these points:

  • Several segments: the programme aims to house different groups, not only buyers.
  • Timeline: units are to be delivered over the coming four years.
  • Rental is back: it widens options beyond ownership, following presidential directives to revive renting alongside existing social housing schemes.
  • Track record: around two million units have been built or are being completed, mostly social housing, plus middle-income projects such as Sakan Misr, Dar Misr and Janna.
  • Payment terms: ownership in these state projects runs on payment plans of around 20 years.
  • Context: renting can make up about half of the housing market in many countries, and its decline in Egypt since the 1960s and 1970s contributed to imbalances, in the government's view.

Link to the 200,000 rental homes directive

The statement came a day after President El-Sisi directed the government and the Tahya Misr Fund to cooperate on building 200,000 homes for rent, splitting the cost, as reported by Ahram Online. Madbouly's remarks place that directive inside a broader multi-year national programme.

What has not been announced yet

None of the sources we reviewed gives the total number of units, the cities included, whether New Damietta is part of it, rents or prices, unit sizes, eligibility rules, booking dates or mortgage rates. Those details should come with the official launch and the booking brochures issued by the housing authorities.

What this means for buyers in New Damietta

This is a policy direction, not an executive decision on prices or locations, so its immediate effect on the New Damietta market is limited. Still, a few practical points apply:

Buying to live in

There is no reason to rush or delay because of this announcement alone. If you may qualify for state programmes, follow the official launch and compare its terms and waiting time with what the private market offers today.

Buying to rent out

More state rental supply could, over time, add competition in the affordable rental segment if nearby cities are included. That is not a certain fall in rents, but it is a good reason to model your rental yield conservatively and focus on what makes your unit stand out: location, proximity to the university and services, and finishing.

Looking to rent

Tenants, especially young people and new families, may get more options in the medium term. Previous state rental schemes came with income, age and residence conditions, so read the eligibility rules once they are published.

Practical checklist

  1. Follow official government channels for the programme details.
  2. When the brochure is out, check which cities are included.
  3. Compare the announced rent or instalment with your real monthly budget.
  4. Investors: rerun your yield numbers with a cautious scenario.
  5. Never pay intermediaries who promise a spot in a state scheme that has not opened.

FAQ

Is booking open?

No. The prime minister described a programme still being prepared, to be announced by the president. No booking dates were given.

Does it include New Damietta?

No cities have been named so far, so it is too early to say.

Will apartment prices fall?

Nobody can say yet. The impact depends on the programme's size, locations and delivery timing, none of which has been published.

How long are payment plans in state housing?

Madbouly said ownership plans in state housing extend to around 20 years; exact terms are set in each offering's brochure.

Sources