Essentials
- City
- Hurghada, Red Sea Governorate, Egypt
- Population
- Approximately 210,000
- Internet Speed
- Average 45 Mbps on VDSL; 100+ Mbps on 5G (Orange/WE)
- Currency & Banking
- Egyptian Pound (EGP). 1 USD ≈ 48 EGP, 1 EUR ≈ 52 EGP
- Tap Water
- Not drinkable; use bottled water (Nestlé/Hayat) approx. 15 EGP per 1.5L
- Power
- 220V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/F sockets
- SIM Card
- Orange, Vodafone, or WE. Available at HRG Airport for approx. $15 for 40GB
- Banking for Expats
- CIB (Commercial International Bank), HSBC, and QNB are best for foreigners
- Accommodation
- Villas in El Gouna, Apartments in Makadi Bay, or Studios in Al Kawther
- Cashless Friendly
- Partial; Hotels and El Gouna accept cards, but local souks require cash
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb and Booking.com; average $40 - $70 per night for a modern studio
- Budget Accommodation
- Bedouin Lodge or Marina Hostel in Sheraton Road area; approx. $15/night
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Sahl Hasheesh or Village Road (Mamsha) for resorts and beaches
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- El Gouna (G-Space area) or Al Kawther for high-speed fiber and cafes
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- G-Space in El Gouna; Day pass 450 EGP ($9), includes high-speed fiber
- Best Cafe for Work
- Purada in Al Kawther or Seventh Star in El Gouna Marina
- Networking Events
- El Gouna Entrepreneurs Meetups and kitesurfing community events at Sliders
- Social Events for Expats
- Hurghada Expats Facebook Group weekly meetups at Hard Rock Cafe
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber (most reliable) and Careem; short rides approx. 60-100 EGP
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- El Gouna E-Bikes and 'Baddel' bike-sharing app in gated areas
- Best Beach Nearby
- Old Town Beach in Sahl Hasheesh or Orange Bay (by boat for $25)
- Top Regional Airline
- EgyptAir and Air Cairo
- Top International Airline
- Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, and Condor
- Highway Access
- Hurghada-Cairo Road (approx. 5 hours drive)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Go Bus Station in Hurghada City Center for intercity luxury buses
- Public Transport Passes
- No formal passes; Microbuses charge 5-10 EGP per ride paid in cash
- Regional Travel
- High-speed Ferry to Sharm El Sheikh (currently intermittent) or Go Bus to Luxor
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- El Gouna Hospital or Nile Hospital (private, English-speaking staff)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- The Yoga Studio in El Gouna; drop-in sessions approx. 350 EGP
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Gold's Gym Hurghada in Al Kawther; approx. 1,800 EGP per month
- Laundry Services
- Clean & Go in Sheraton Road; full loads washed and dried for approx. 200 EGP
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Talabat (most popular) and ElMenus
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Sayadeyya (Spiced fish with rice) at Star Fish Restaurant
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Eish & Malh or Soul Kitchen in El Gouna
- Best Dessert Spots
- Nid's Patisserie in Sheraton Road for Om Ali and Baklava
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Senzo Mall (Spinneys Supermarket) for grocery shopping
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.eg and Noon.com
- Grocery Delivery
- Instashop and Rabbit (fast delivery in specific zones)
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Marina Hurghada and the Abu Tig Marina in El Gouna
- Local Brewery
- Sakara and Stella (brewed by Al Ahram Beverages locally)
- Wine Bars
- The Bartender in El Gouna or The Lobby Bar in Sahl Hasheesh
- Street Food Stalls
- Dahar Souk area for 10 EGP Falafel/Ta'ameya sandwiches
- Popular International Cuisine
- Moby Dick (Steakhouse) and Thai Garden relative to Al Mashrabia
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Al Mina Mosque (Grand Mosque) and the Hurghada Marina
- Museums & Art Venues
- Hurghada Museum (Archaeological) near the airport; Tickets approx. 200 EGP
- Historical Sites
- Monastery of St. Anthony and St. Paul (day trip to the desert)
- Religious Sites
- Saint Shenouda Coptic Orthodox Church in Dahar
- Annual Events
- El Gouna Film Festival (GFF) held every October
- Cultural Districts
- El Dahar (the old town for authentic Egyptian atmosphere)
- Theater Venues
- Alf Leila Wa Leila (1001 Nights) open-air theater
- Local Markets
- Dahar Fish Market and the Souk Al Dahar
- Music Scene
- Elements Club and various beach clubs in El Gouna for electronic music
- Street Art
- Murals around the El Gouna Downtown area
- Cooking Classes
- Selena Bay Resort culinary workshops
- Art Galleries
- Art Village in El Gouna
- Historic Buildings
- The Old Sheraton Building (modernist ruins)
- Local Heritage
- Red Sea Bedouin heritage tours in the Eastern Desert
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Giftun Island National Park for snorkeling and diving
- National Parks Nearby
- Wadi El Gemal National Park (approx. 4 hours south)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- The Hurghada Promenade (Mamsha) for a 5km coastal walk
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Panorama Viewpoint near Old Town Sahl Hasheesh
- Birdwatching Locations
- El Gouna Lagoons for migratory shorebirds
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Desert Safari camps in the Hurghada desert dunes
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Aramex Hurghada and DHL Express in Sheraton Road
- Tech Repair Services
- I-Clinic in Al Kawther for laptop and phone repairs
- Table Tennis Spots
- Sliders Cable Park social area
- Language Classes
- Ahlan Arabic Centre in Hurghada
- Libraries & Study Spots
- El Gouna Library (Part of Bibliotheca Alexandrina)
- Community Centers
- Urban Station in New Marina
- Gaming Lounges
- Cyber Cafes in Dahar for local gaming
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Casino Royale in Jolie Ville Hotels (Foreign passport only)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $1,100 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $44,000 in El Kawther)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $850 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $34,000 in Al Ahyaa)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $1,500 per m² in El Gouna Marina (e.g., 60 m² = $90,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $750 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $45,000 in Makadi)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $1,400 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $112,000 in Sahl Hasheesh)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $700 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $56,000 in Al Ahyaa)
- Corporate Tax
- Standard rate is 22.5%
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 10% for residents, 5% if listed on the Egyptian Stock Exchange
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for residents (staying >183 days)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 27.5% for income exceeding 1.2 million EGP
- VAT
- Standard rate 14%
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, applicable if the foreign entity is in a low-tax jurisdiction
- Property Tax
- Annual tax between 10% - 12% of the rental value, with exemptions for primary residence
- Property Transaction Tax
- Real Estate Disposal Tax of 2.5% on the sale value
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific nomad visa yet, but low cost of living and simple tourist visa extensions ($15/month)