For unit owners in Egypt
Renting your unit short-term now needs a licence
The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities issued two decrees in 2025 that regulate short-term rental for the first time. This page sets out what they require, and who can realistically carry it.
What every unit needs
- A Holiday Home Licence from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, renewed every year.
- Proof of ownership, or a valid lease for the unit.
- Civil Defence fire-safety approval.
- An occupational health and safety inspection, coordinated with the Ministry of Labour.
- Tax registration, with rental income declared to the Egyptian Tax Authority.
- Accurate guest records, and electronic reporting through the Ministry's portal.
- Mandatory services including housekeeping, for the Touristic Suitability Certificate.
One unit versus a portfolio
On your own
Everything above — the licence, the annual renewal, Civil Defence, occupational safety, tax registration and guest records — for a single unit.
Under an operator running units
The decrees let a corporate operator hold one consolidated licence across its portfolio, given a registered operational base and a manager recognised by the Ministry.
A classifieds site or a booking platform does not solve this — it does not operate the unit, so the obligation stays with you wherever you advertise.
Questions
Do I really need a licence to rent my chalet for a week?
Under Decree No. 209 of 2025, no individual or company may offer a residential unit for short-term or transient occupancy without a Holiday Home Licence from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, and it must be renewed annually. The decree does not carve out owners renting a single unit.
What is the eight-unit rule I keep hearing about?
Decree No. 801 of 2025 covers a second category of Holiday Home: a minimum of eight residential units, apartments or studios, inside a standalone building or a dedicated section of one, used exclusively as Holiday Homes and meeting hotel-grade structural standards. It is a separate track from the general licence in Decree No. 209, not a threshold below which you are exempt.
Can a management company licence my unit for me?
The decrees allow a corporate operator running multiple units to obtain a single consolidated licence covering its portfolio, provided it maintains a registered operational base and a designated manager formally recognised by the Ministry. That is the route most single-unit owners will find practical, because the alternative is carrying every requirement alone for one unit.
Is anyone actually enforcing this?
Enforcement is early and varies by governorate, and a unified online application process was set to begin in October 2025. The direction is not ambiguous: the regime links short-term rental to the Tourism Law No. 1 of 1973 and the Hotel and Tourist Establishments Law No. 8 of 2022, and to tax registration. Planning on it not being enforced is a position, not a strategy.
Does this affect where I can operate?
Yes. The decrees empower governorates to designate specific zones or districts as eligible tourism areas for Holiday Home operations, aligning short-term rental with zoning rules. Whether your compound sits inside an eligible zone is worth confirming before you plan around the income.
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This page is general information, not legal advice. Implementing details are updated periodically and enforcement varies by governorate — check with a legal adviser and your governorate's tourism directorate before relying on anything here.