Housing markets in the Middle East continue to struggle, but Egypt is a positive exception. The housing market in Egypt rose in the past year, with the national real estate index increasing by 4.51% in the year to Q2 2018. Rapid house price rises could be expected in Egypt as a result of the dramatic inflation that was triggered by more than halving the value of the currency in November 2016. House prices have not increased any more, is surprising. President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi recently removed the last restrictions on foreign ownership of land and property in Egypt. He also allowed the government, the largest landowner in Egypt, to use its land for public-private partnerships. It is expected that the economy will grow strongly by 5.2% this year, the fastest pace in a decade, according to the IMF.