Exciting and Vibrant Hurghada

Hurghada attracts thousands of visitors each year and is one of the top resorts in Egypt, but it has only undergone this transformation during the last few years, as it used to be a small fishing village. Although it has grown substantially over the last decade or so it has still managed to retain much of its historic charm, and it still feels authentically Egyptian.

It is perfect for anyone looking to completely relax on holiday, and is a great year round destination, packed full of amenities designed to appeal to international tourists from around the globe. Demand for accommodation here has increased substantially over the last few years, and there have been many new luxury developments designed to cater for second home buyers and buyers looking for investment property, and as such there is plenty of rental accommodation to choose from.

Egypt is just five hours away from the UK, and there are numerous charter flights and flights with low-cost airlines from most UK airports. The international airport at Hurghada is just a short transfer away from the main resort. Average temperatures here are well over 30°C, and it remains warm all year round.

While the excellent weather and beautiful beaches are part of a major attraction here, there is still plenty to do and see inland. You don't have to travel far from the resort before you are in the desert, and there are lots of exciting trips which allow you to explore this beautiful but hostile landscape. You can also choose to book longer trips to see some of the major historical sites in Egypt, or of course you could choose to just relax, which is of course the whole point of going on holiday.

Advantages of Holidaying in Hurghada

Hurghada is a relatively new resort but is fast becoming an international centre for aquatic sports. Obviously the most popular on-water activities here are snorkelling and diving, but it's also possible to do deep sea fishing, sailing and windsurfing. The warm waters here make it ideal for all kinds of watersports, and are extremely conducive for the large numbers of rare fish and coral reefs, which can also be observed from glass bottom boat if you really don't want to get your feet wet.

There is a huge choice of accommodation in Hurghada, which includes four and five star hotels, although a lot of people choose to rent self-catering accommodation as much of it is new, and is often quite luxurious.

Hurghada has a reputation as a party town, particularly amongst Europeans as there are many clubs here, but the resort is also popular with older Europeans who come here for family holidays as it is easy enough to find quieter parts of town.

The resort is still developing, and facilities will only get even better in the future, and there are various communities being developed just outside the main resort. These include El Gouna, a resort community constructed along 10 km of the beautiful beachfront to the north of Hurghada, and offering visitors a wide choice of activities.

It is an internationally certified diving centre, but also offers kite surfing, and it has the distinction of being the first professional centre in Egypt to do so. It also has an 18-hole US PGA golf course should you get too bored of lying on one of the gorgeous beaches. In short Hurghada has something for everyone and caters for all ages.

Sahl Hasheesh, Hurghada

Sahl Hasheesh is around 20 km south of Hurghada in Egypt's Red Sea Riviera, and is very much a resort town that is rapidly growing in popularity. In January 2011 capacity here was nearly 100%, however immediately after the revolution capacity dropped to a low point of around 5%, but is now recovering nicely.

Egyptian Resorts Company, who are a developer of mega communities estimates that occupancy is now around 50% capacity, and is confident enough to launch a new public beach in the downtown area which will be open to residents and visitors to the resort town. Their original plan was to complete the downtown area along with the new public beach for the summer, but this has been put on hold just until things settle down.

Egyptian Resorts Company controls the land supply in this area, and is making sure that development is carefully controlled so that there is adequate infrastructure, and no random houses or compounds can be built.

The eventual aim is to transform Sahl Hasheesh into a year-round community. At the moment it is concentrating on infrastructure within the resort, and is also developing public relations and marketing campaigns so that when business returns to normal this resort will be ahead of competitors.

Sahl Hasheesh is a resort around two thirds the size of Manhattan which is being constructed in three phases, at the moment the town has its own offices, schools, hospital, parks, entertainment and restaurants. The marina here is especially nice as it is constructed in a Mediterranean style, and offers visitors a beach and entertainment facilities in the same area.

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The Many and Varied Attractions of Hurghada

Hurghada is one of the biggest resorts in the Red Sea Riviera, but is often overshadowed by Sharm el Sheikh. However there are several reasons as to why this resort is better. To put it simply, it has a bit of everything, and the sheer number of activities offered to holidaymakers make it very hard to beat.

Its primary claim to fame is perhaps as the diving capital of the world, and certainly you'll find world-class facilities here. If you are looking to learn how to scuba dive, then there is probably no better place to do so, as the waters are warm and clear, and coral reefs are superb. It's also an excellent location for families as there is safe snorkelling and swimming, and of course there are always lots of boat trips on offer. Most places will not allow kids under the age of 10 to scuba dive.

Although Hurghada is quite a lively resort at night, there are plenty of quieter places nearby including El Gouna, Soma Bay and Makadi Bay.

If you ever become tired of the glorious beaches and then there is lots to do and see nearby. There are numerous camel safaris on offer, or you can choose to travel a little further afield to see the pyramids or the Valley of the Kings.

It's easy to see why so many people choose to buy property here, as it is considerably cheaper than Sharm el Sheikh, and the flight connections are just as good. It has the same high standard of amenities, and is fast becoming extremely popular. It's a year-round resort, and many people are able to earn good rental income from property here.

Why is Hurghada so special?

Although Hurghada has undergone development since the nineteen eighties, it is only really during the last decade that there has been substantial growth. It has become a thriving resort with over 200 hotels, although many holiday makers choose to rent one of the numerous luxury apartments. Nearly 2 million tourists visited the resort in 2008, and this number is increasing steadily each year. It is essentially a year round resort, although the busiest seasons tend to be from September to November, and March until May.

A large attraction of Hurghada is that it has excellent amenities, but property here is a lot cheaper than the rival resort of Sharm el Sheikh. It remains to be seen how long this situation will continue, as the resort is still being developed and is increasing in popularity. The biggest attraction of Hurghada is of course the Red Sea, and the majority of tourists will come to take part in the numerous watersports offered here.

Tourism is the main industry in Hurghada, but a number of people are employed in construction, mining and fishing. A lot of people living in the resort are foreigners who come here, fallen under its spell, and never left. Most work in real estate and tourism, or have local businesses. Property investment in this resort has become more prevalent over the last few years, and the recent resolution of some of the property disputes which have been rumbling on for the past few months are bound to give this region a boost. Most of the buyers in Hurghada are British, German or Russian, and newly built compounds just outside the city are proving increasingly popular as many come with private beach access.

Hurghada is an all-round resort

Hurghada is fast gaining a reputation as a town which has something for everyone. It is already well known as a holiday resort which attracts visitors from around the world who come to enjoy not just the year round sun, but also the world class water sports. It is perhaps less well known for being an international business hub.

In addition it is also a very busy port city, and a truly international destination which welcomes every nationality. Up until now, these attributes have gone largely unnoticed, as it is best known for being a resort where property is still very affordable, but some industry experts now believe that Hurghada may one day overtake Sharm el-Sheikh in popularity.

This view is partly due to the fact that the deposed President Mubarak chose to take refuge in his holiday villa in Sharm el-Sheikh before heart problems forced him to enter hospital. His presence in the resort lead to a large prevalence of security forces in the resort, which doesn’t exactly inspire confidence in visiting tourists.

Hurghada also offers a different holiday experience from Sharm el-Sheikh, as it’s bazaars and souks lead it to have a much more authentic feel, as opposed to the more sophisticated and high-end amenities of Sharm el-Sheikh. However this doesn’t mean that Hurghada doesn’t have the capability of becoming as sophisticated, as all the potential is there. This is partly due to the fact that Hurghada has a number of what are called satellite resorts, such as El Gouna which has a number of man-made lagoons that would be more at home in glitzy Dubai. Sal Hasheesh is another part of Hurghada which has tremendous potential, and which is being sold off as a self-contained resort village.

Buying property in Hurghada

Egyptian property has received less than positive news in recent months due to the continuing land sale crisis, with the caretaker government having to settle disputes about land which may have been purchased illegally through the old government. However the majority of property involved is not in the Red Sea area, and the government is anxious to settle disputes without upsetting foreign investors who make up a staggering 90% of the Egyptian property market.

Although these disputes may affect the property market in the short term, in the long-term the effect should be beneficial, leading to greater transparency, and it's unlikely that overseas buyers will lose out. One suggestion being put forward to settle disputes is that the developers should pay the difference between the price paid and the price deemed fair by the courts which wouldn't affect purchasers at all.

While this is all going on there is undoubtedly the chance to pick up a bargain in Hurghada, and it is perfectly located right in the heart of the Red Sea Riviera. The resort is famous for its cosmopolitan atmosphere as it straddles eastern and western influences, and it has some of the best beaches and water sports in the world. Since it was substantially developed in the 1980s, it has become one of the leading resorts in the region, which is perhaps due to the 40 km of beach. Although it is quite a lively resort, it enjoys easy access to nearby uninhabited offshore reefs and islands for those who want to get away from it all.

Hurghada Property Investment: What’s Not to Like?

Hurghada is really picking up popularity in the overseas property world, and is now a force to be reckoned with. The fact that the government is investing heavily in the area is undoubtedly helping a great deal.

Another huge plus is the large and growing range of flights to the area from throughout Europe (including the UK), making it possible for some people even to enjoy long weekends in the sun-drenched destination. This, combined with the developing infrastructure and year-round-warm climate makes for strong rental income on well-chosen Hurghada properties.

The beaches and watersports are plenty for most visitors, but the city is alive with activity, some have even compared it to Cairo because of its authentic Egyptian markets and souks. There are also plenty of restaraunts, clubs and wester-style shopping centres in the tourist district.

On top of that Hurghada has a banking district as well, which is located near a promenada which has further bars, nightclubs and cafes. For the more adventurous traveller there are desert excursions over the bedouin lands, including jeep safari tours featuring a camel ride.

Egypt is one of the world’s fastest growing economies, and even after its recent troubles has great prospects for business growth. The government is offering 1 year tax free to anyone who starts a business in the country, and this can be done with very little capital.

In short Hurghada has pretty much everything a property investor is looking for in an overseas investment destination.

Investing in Hurghada Property

Hurghada is rapidly becoming the newest and most sought-after destination in Egypt. That is saying something given its location on the Red Sea Riviera has been designated a growth and investment zone by the Egyptian government as they recognise it as the fastest growing tourist destination in the country.

Hurghada has been expanding since the 1980s, but the current growth in tourism has increased the need for rental property as centrally located resorts can have an occupancy rate as high as 90% year round. This is because it's a popular destination with holidaymakers from around the world but particularly with Europeans and Russians, but also with Egyptians.

Although the major attraction of Hurghada is of course the sea and the unlimited opportunity for water-sports. It's also becoming well-known as a luxury resort that offers high standards of service and accommodation, with some even comparing it to the Caribbean.

Much of this is due to the high levels of foreign and domestic investment that include improved access to Hurghada through the new airport, and a complete refurbishment of the central resort area and the promenade which is known as the Golden Mile.

The marina opened in 2008 and has a good selection of upmarket restaurants and bars which guarantees its attraction to visitors for many years to come. El Gouna golf course is an 18-hole championship golf course which is just a short drive away from central Hurghada, and is a good example of the kind of private investment that has gone into the area already.

A lot of the visitors to Hurghada choose to return year after year, especially during the winter months as its close proximity to Europe makes it ideal for a weeks holiday.

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Hurghada Shaping up as Property Investment Hotspot

Hurghada is fast gaining a reputation as one of the most desirable Red Sea resorts in Egypt, as the tourism sector develops alongside new infrastructure. It is especially popular with British visitors due to the extensive number of cheap flights from the UK and the low cost of living and holidaying. British visitor numbers alone are estimated to be increasing by around 20% year-on-year.

Hurghada first began to emerge as a property hotspot during the global property boom, and is expected to remain a top location for overseas investors for some years to come.

Hotels and resorts are being built to cope with the increased tourism demand and many are being sold freehold; offering investors a hands-free managed investment with free usage into the bargain.

The property in this resort is amongst the cheapest in the world with one bedroom apartments being available for as little as £20,000. Two bedroom apartments can be purchased for £35,000 upwards, and the fact that this is a year round resort means there are impressive rental yields. In fact many properties, including the hotel room investments mentioned above come with guaranteed yields of around 10% in the opening years.

There are even properties in Hurghada where investors can choose to rent the property first and then buy it later, with the entire rental previously paid going towards the purchase price of the property. An added advantage is that during the rental period there are no annual maintenance fees, and the apartment can even be sublet to generate income. These types of properties are generally let fully furnished and can be bought at any time during the 15 year lease.