Foreign ownership of agricultural land remains prohibited under Law No. 15 of 1963. Law No. 143 of 1981 governs desert land—defined broadly as land located more than two kilometres outside city borders—including land reclaimed for cultivation. The law previously allowed partnerships and joint stock companies to own up to 10,000 and 50,000 feddans respectively, provided Egyptian nationals held at least 51% of the capital. Leases exceeding 50 years are treated as ownership under this law. 
However, Law No. 11 of 2024, in force since February 24, 2024, removes the 51% Egyptian ownership requirement for companies acquiring desert land under the Investment Law (Law No. 72 of 2017), including for agricultural investment projects. Individual foreign ownership remains capped at 20% of a company's capital, and land may not be transferred to non-Egyptians upon the dissolution of a company or cooperative. Arab nationals may be granted equal ownership rights to Egyptians by presidential decree with Cabinet approval.
"Article 1
In applying the provisions of this law, what is meant by "Zamama" are desert lands owned by the state as private property, and located outside the "Zamama" within a distance of two kilometers. The term "Zamama" means the boundary of lands that have been surveyed in detail and recorded in the survey records and in the tax records and subject to the real estate tax on lands.
With regard to desert governorates, the "Zamama" is considered the cordon of cities and villages existing on the date of the implementation of this law and those established in the future up to a distance of two kilometers.
The Prime Minister shall issue a decision determining what is considered desert governorates in applying the provisions of this law.
The lands subject to this law include the lands of lakes that are being drained or included in the drainage plan for the purposes of reclamation and cultivation.
[...]
Article 3
The reclamation, cultivation, ownership, recognition, disposal, management and use of desert lands shall be in accordance with the provisions of this Law and its implementing decisions.
Any mines, quarries, mineral or petroleum resources found on the land, and any antiquities or historical heritage contained therein, must be preserved in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations.
The General Authority for Reconstruction Projects and Agricultural Development shall be the state agency responsible for the disposal, exploitation and management of these lands for reclamation and cultivation purposes only and shall be referred to in this Law
as the Authority.
Without prejudice to what is allocated for state projects, the New Urban Communities Authority shall have exclusive jurisdiction over exploitation, management and disposal for purposes other than reclamation and cultivation. This shall be done on its behalf and shall be considered one of its resources.
[...]
Article 6
The Authority shall undertake planning, conducting studies, and preparing the necessary research for land reclamation and cultivation projects subject to this law, and implementing, supervising, and following up on these projects, after ensuring, by all scientific means, their suitability for reclamation and agricultural and economic exploitation, and the possibility of benefiting from irrigation from groundwater, surface water, treated sewage water, or other water resources.
[...]
Article 11
The maximum ownership in desert lands subject to the provisions of this law shall be in accordance with the rationalization and economy achieved by irrigation methods and techniques in the use of available water resources, and in accordance with scientific developments in this field, as follows:
(a) If irrigation is based on groundwater or modern methods such as sprinkler, drip irrigation, or any irrigation method that relies on water pressure are used, the maximum ownership shall be determined as follows:
1- 200 (two hundred) acres for an individual and 300 (three hundred) acres for a family, including the wife and unmarried minor children.
2- 10,000 (ten thousand) acres for a cooperative society, with a maximum of 30 (thirty) acres for a member.
3- 10,000 (ten thousand) acres for partnerships and limited partnerships, provided that the ownership of an individual does not exceed 150 (one hundred and fifty) acres.
4- 50,000 (fifty thousand) acres for joint-stock companies.
(b) If irrigation is by the surface irrigation method agreed upon between the Minister in charge of land reclamation and the Minister of Irrigation, or for dried areas of lake lands, the maximum ownership limit shall not exceed half of the maximum limits referred to.
Except in cases where the investor obtains the lands necessary to practice or expand his activity, in accordance with the provisions of this law or the Investment Law issued by Law No. 72 of 2017, Egyptian ownership shall not be less than (51%) of the company's capital, and individual ownership shall not exceed (20%) of its capital. The lands of cooperative societies and companies may not be transferred to non-Egyptians upon their dissolution.
Public sector companies are not subject to any maximum limit.
As an exception to the provisions regulating individual and family ownership of agricultural lands and similar lands, areas owned in areas other than desert lands are not included in the calculation of the maximum ownership limit in accordance with the provisions of this law.
In all cases, the areas that may be owned shall be determined by a decision of the Authority's Board of Directors within the limits required by the nature of the project and permitted by the technical and financial capabilities of those seeking ownership.
[...]
Article 12
The provisions of the previous article shall apply to full ownership, freehold ownership, and usufruct rights. A lease for a term exceeding fifty years shall be considered as ownership in the application of the provisions of this law.
Except in cases where the investor obtains the lands necessary to practice or expand his activity, in accordance with the provisions of this law or the aforementioned investment law, only Egyptians shall benefit from ownership in accordance with the provisions of this law. However, by a decision of the President of the Republic for reasons he deems appropriate, and after the approval of the Council of Ministers, anyone who holds the nationality of an Arab country shall be treated in the same manner as Egyptians in this law.
In the event that the maximum ownership exceeds the limits stipulated in this law, the provisions of Article (7) of Law No. 50 of 1969 shall be followed by setting a maximum limit for family and individual ownership of agricultural lands and the like. [...]" (Law No. 143 of 1981 regarding desert lands, as amended by Law No. 11 of 2024, Articles 1, 3, 6, 11 and 12 [google translation])
-------------------
"Foreigners, whether natural or legal persons, are prohibited from owning agricultural lands and the like cultivable, fallow and desert lands in the United Arab Republic. This prohibition includes full ownership as well as ownership of the neck or usufruct.
It is not considered agricultural land in the application of the provisions of this law, the lands within the scope of cities and countries to which the provisions of Law No. 52 of 1940 are referred to, if they are not subject to the lands tax.[...]" (Law No. 15 of 1963: Prohibiting foreign ownership of agricultural lands and the like [google translation])
----------------------
"Article 1
b) With the exception of the lands stipulated in item (a), the minister concerned with land reclamation shall issue a decision defining the areas (which are covered by the land reclamation plan and projects. This is one of the conditions and rules required by the State Defense Affairs
In the application of the provisions of this law, desert lands mean lands owned by the state, privately owned, and located outside the reins after a distance of two kilometers.
[...]
Article 11
The maximum ownership limit in the desert lands subject to the provisions of this law shall be in accordance with the irrigation methods and methods achieved
in terms of: rationalization and economy in the use of available water sources, and in accordance with scientific developments in this field, as follows
a) If irrigation is on groundwater or modern methods are used, such as sprinkler or drip, or any irrigation method that depends on water pressure (1): The maximum
ownership limit is determined as follows: [...]
2. Ten thousand (ten thousand) feddans for a cooperative society, with a maximum of thirty (30) feddans for a member.
3. Ten thousand) acres for companies of persons and the recommendation of shares, taking into account that the maximum limit for the ownership of the individual does not exceed 150 (one hundred and fifty) acres.
4. Fifty thousand (50,000) feddans for joint stock companies.
b) If the irrigation is by the surface irrigation method that is agreed upon between the Minister concerned with Reclamation and the Minister of Public Works and Water Resources, or for the drained areas of lake lands, the maximum ownership limit shall not exceed half of the aforementioned maximum limits.
The ownership of Egyptians shall not be less than 51% of the company's capital, and the individual's ownership shall not exceed 20% of the company's capital. [...]" (Law No. 143 of 1981 regarding desert lands. [google translation])
Law No. 143 of 1981 regarding desert lands, as amended by Law No. 11 of 2024
Law No. 15 of 1963 on the Prohibition of Foreign Ownership of Agricultural lands, as amended by Law No. 104 of 1985
Law No. 143 of 1981 on Desert Lands
[<a href="https://lawhub.info/?p=11556">Law</a>],[<a href="https://manshurat.org/content/tdyl-bd-hkm-qnwn-lrdy-lshrwy-blqnwn-rqm-11-lsn-2024">Amendment</a>],[<a href="https://elpai.idsc.gov.eg/Legislations/Item/92083">Law</a>],[<a href="http://extwprlegs1.fao.org/docs/pdf/egy208069.pdf">Law</a>],[<a href="https://www.shorouknews.com/news/view.aspx?cdate=29022024&id=11bf1885-e26a-4c80-9893-5ba03322445d">Other</a>],[<a href="https://www.gafi.gov.eg/English/StartaBusiness/Laws-and-Regulations/Documents/LandandRealEstateOwnershipLaws.pdf">Other</a>],[<a href="https://www.tamimi.com/law-update-articles/foreign-ownership-of-real-estate-in-egypt/">Other</a>]