Cairo: Egypt's pyramids and great sphinx might capture the popular imagination, but it's the new constructions rising from the desert that draw crowds to its Red Sea shores.
With only five hours' flying time from Britain, this is one of North Africa's most accessible countries. Around one million Britons visit Egypt annually. the majority will head for Sharm Al Shaikh and increasingly the town of Hurghada and its nearby resorts. Sharm, on the Red Sea's north coast on the sinai peninsula, is a 20-mile-long strip, book-ended by national parks. A multitude of hotels line the length of the shore.
It's worth knowing that property in Sharm and on Sinai can be bought leasehold only.
However, in Hurghada, on the Egyptian mainland, it can be bought freehold. "It's reassuring for Britons to know they're investing in a place with few buying complications," says Paul Jackson, of the Royal Beach Resort in Hurghada.
"And you have a tax-free property with no capital gains tax or inheritance tax to pay.
"However, always instruct a reputable lawyer."
Ease and security of purchase are important considerations, but it is the region's attractions that are so alluring. The crystal-clear waters of the Red Sea, which is linked by the Suez Canal to the Mediterranean, make an enticing playground. Scuba diving is top class, while snorkelling, wind and kite surfing are just a few of the aquatic pleasures to attract tourists.
In Hurghada, which is centred on a market and port, restaurants and westernised cafes sit next to boutiques and malls.
But most overseas buyers look for holiday homes about 10 miles up the coast at resorts such as Al Gouna and Royal Beach.
Royal Beach is a luxury beachfront development including studios, one, two and three-bedroom apartments with uninterrupted sea views. Completion is expected by 2012. The resort has its own beach and a marina for watersports.
"Royal Beach is unique because it has a genuine beachfront. Much of Hurghada's coastline. Royal Beach is a true five-star, all-inclusive resort," says Jackson.
