Social Housing Rental Units: Applications Close 28 October, Damietta Included

24 October 2026

Masari Team

Applications for 15,000 social housing rental units offered by Egypt's Social Housing and Mortgage Finance Fund under the "Housing for All Egyptians 9" booklet close on Wednesday 28 October 2026, according to several Egyptian outlets. Damietta governorate is on the list of governorates with 90 sq m units, while New Damietta does not appear in the published list of new cities for this offering.

What happened?

El Watan, Al-Dostor, Veto and Cairo Mubasher all reported over the last few days that the general application window, which opened on 28 September after a first phase reserved for people with disabilities, ends on 28 October. Applications are submitted online through the Digital Egypt platform.

This is a different scheme from the 10,000 rent-to-own units that the New Urban Communities Authority stopped accepting on 19 October. The current units belong to the Social Housing Fund, and Al-Dostor reported that applicants cannot apply to both schemes.

How the units are distributed

Governorates: about 8,464 units, mostly 90 sq m (three bedrooms and a living room), in governorates including Damietta.
New cities: about 3,256 units in cities such as 15 May, New Obour, New Borg El Arab, Sadat and Capital Gardens. New Damietta and New Mansoura are not on the published lists.
Hayah Karima villages: about 3,280 units of 96 to 100 sq m.

The sources did not publish how many units are in Damietta governorate or where exactly, so check the official booklet before applying.

Key conditions and fees

Item	As reported
Age	21 to 35 on the closing date
Income cap	Net household income up to EGP 16,000 per month (most sources)
Registration fee	EGP 365, non-refundable, paid online
Deposit	EGP 10,000 per unit, paid at post offices, refunded per the booklet
Rent	The tenant pays 25% of net monthly income; the Fund covers the rest
Increase and fees	7% a year, plus EGP 250 a month for maintenance and administration
Subsidy cap	Up to EGP 100,000 over the rental term

One El Watan report gave a different income cap, so the official booklet on Digital Egypt is the final reference. El Watan also listed common reasons for rejection: unclear document scans, income above the cap, age outside the range, expired documents, undocumented extra income, and a previous social housing benefit.

What does this mean for buyers in New Damietta?

If you need subsidised housing

This is a real option for young, lower-income families in Damietta governorate, but the units may not be inside New Damietta. Check the locations in the booklet and factor in commuting costs.

If you want to own

Subsidised rent does not give you ownership. If owning in New Damietta is your goal, compare the rent you would pay (25% of income) with a monthly installment on a developer plan or a mortgage, including the down payment and finishing costs.

If you are a landlord

Because New Damietta is not on the new-cities list, we do not expect a direct short-term effect on its private rental market.

Quick checklist

Read the official booklet on Digital Egypt and confirm the Damietta unit locations.
Prepare valid national IDs, a recent income certificate and a recent utility bill.
Make sure your family register extract is under three months old.
Upload clear, complete scans.
Pay the registration fee online and keep every receipt.
Do not wait for the last day, and ignore anyone offering to "speed up" approval for money.

FAQ

When is the deadline?

Wednesday 28 October 2026.

Are there units in New Damietta?

New Damietta is not on the published new-cities list; Damietta governorate is listed for 90 sq m units.

How much is the monthly rent?

There is no fixed figure: you pay 25% of your net monthly income, rising 7% a year, plus EGP 250 in fees.

Can I apply for both rent and rent-to-own?

No, according to Al-Dostor, and the rent-to-own window already closed on 19 October.