Key Takeaways
- • Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said on Wednesday, 4 November 2026, that President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi ordered an end to a freeze on land registration within the Prince Mostafa Abdel-Mannan endowment in Damietta, Dakahlia and Kafr El-Sheikh.
- • The Real Estate Registration and Notarization Authority revoked Technical Circular No. 8 of 2026 through Technical Circular No. 13, dated 4 November, restoring registration and property transactions within the endowment.
- • The original freeze, issued 6 May 2026, halted all procedures and transactions on land covered by the endowment deed until a full inventory of holdings was completed.
- • The government framed the reversal as protecting citizens' property rights and stabilizing transactions, while stating that state, endowment and third-party rights are preserved.
- • The freeze had stalled contract registration, building licences and utility connections, prompting briefing requests from MPs in the three governorates.
Summary
Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said on Wednesday that President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi had ordered a halt to a measure freezing land registration within the Prince Mostafa Abdel-Mannan endowment in Damietta, Dakahlia and Kafr El-Sheikh, according to Ahram Online. The directive targets Technical Circular No. 8 of 2026, issued by the Real Estate Registration and Notarization Authority, which suspended land registration procedures within the endowment.
The authority subsequently issued Technical Circular No. 13, dated 4 November, revoking the earlier circular and lifting the restrictions it had placed on registration and property transactions so that citizens can resume dealings in accordance with the law. The presidential statement said the decision reflects a commitment to protecting citizens' interests, safeguarding their rights and stabilizing property transactions, and responds to citizens' concerns. It also stated that the move preserves the rights of the state, endowment funds and the legitimate rights of all parties.
The original circular, issued on 6 May, halted all procedures and transactions involving land covered by the endowment deed until an inventory was completed. That month, El-Sisi had reviewed the Egyptian Awqaf Authority's plans for its real estate assets and stressed the need to inventory and document all holdings. MPs from the three governorates filed requests for briefings on the measure, and one said it had stalled contract registration, building licences and utility connections. In June, the government said citizens with settled legal positions inside the endowment's boundaries would not be affected and offered state-owned land to the Awqaf Authority as an alternative.
The episode comes amid wider scrutiny of endowment land. In December 2025, the Senate's Agriculture and Irrigation Committee set talks with the endowments minister over rising farmland rental fees on Endowments Authority land. Separately, Egypt launched a digital platform in January for applications to legalize informal possession of state-owned land under Law No. 168 of 2025, and launched a real estate mobile application in August. On 24 October, Madbouly said the government aims to complete digitization of services for citizens, investors and government agencies within three years.
The authority subsequently issued Technical Circular No. 13, dated 4 November, revoking the earlier circular and lifting the restrictions it had placed on registration and property transactions so that citizens can resume dealings in accordance with the law. The presidential statement said the decision reflects a commitment to protecting citizens' interests, safeguarding their rights and stabilizing property transactions, and responds to citizens' concerns. It also stated that the move preserves the rights of the state, endowment funds and the legitimate rights of all parties.
The original circular, issued on 6 May, halted all procedures and transactions involving land covered by the endowment deed until an inventory was completed. That month, El-Sisi had reviewed the Egyptian Awqaf Authority's plans for its real estate assets and stressed the need to inventory and document all holdings. MPs from the three governorates filed requests for briefings on the measure, and one said it had stalled contract registration, building licences and utility connections. In June, the government said citizens with settled legal positions inside the endowment's boundaries would not be affected and offered state-owned land to the Awqaf Authority as an alternative.
The episode comes amid wider scrutiny of endowment land. In December 2025, the Senate's Agriculture and Irrigation Committee set talks with the endowments minister over rising farmland rental fees on Endowments Authority land. Separately, Egypt launched a digital platform in January for applications to legalize informal possession of state-owned land under Law No. 168 of 2025, and launched a real estate mobile application in August. On 24 October, Madbouly said the government aims to complete digitization of services for citizens, investors and government agencies within three years.
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