Bids for the implementation of over 50,000 new residential units are currently being issued by the New Urban Communities Authorities, Minister of Housing Mostafa Madbouly announced on Monday. The units come as part of a social housing programme previously announced by the government in July 2012. The government expects the national housing project to provide 1m residential units and for construction to last five years, from fiscal year (FY) 2012/2013 to FY 2016/2017; an average of 200,000 units are expected to be constructed per year. The residential units are to be constructed in 15 different cities and governorates nationwide. Over 6,000 units will be constructed in 10th of Ramadan City, while almost 5,000 units will be constructed in 15th of May City. The ministry said in an official statement issued Monday that residential units will also be built in other cities, including New Beni Seuf, New Assiut, New Sohag, New Aswan, Al-Sadat and Badr. Around 30,000 units are currently under construction in nine different cities. The minister pointed out that he gave direct instructions to NUCA that all residential units include health clinics, schools and shopping malls, along with other public serving entities. The citizens' eligibility regulations, which were announced by the government in January, were questioned by the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR). The civil organisation highlighted that regulations prevent 50% of the lowest-income Egyptian from qualifying. Regulations state that owning an apartment requires that families receive a maximum income of EGP 40,000 annually, which encompasses around 10% of Egyptians, and a minimum income of EGP 23,040 annually. For renting a residential unit, the family's maximum annual income is set at EGP 18,000. According to the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics' (CAPMAS) 2012/2013 Income, Expenditure and Consumption report, the top 10% of Egyptians received an average annual income of EGP 42,789, while the minimum income of a middle class family stood at EGP 23,097.
