Assalaamu Alaykum,
Hi Everyone, my name is Alaa Gamal, I am Egyptian, but grew up in
the USA. I now live and work in Chicago and I have a wife and baby
boy, Adam! (Al-hamdulillah). There is job as Director for AMIDEAST
in Cairo and I am applying to it. I would like to live in Egypt since
I want Adam to learn Arabic and learn Islam. Although there are
Islamic schools in Chicago, I think it would be easier to raise him
and his future brothers/sisters (In Sha Allah) in Egypt.
AMIDEAST is located at 23 Mussadak Street in Dokki. Can you tell me
if that is a good neighboorhood? (shopping is easy, streets are
clean, and so on)
#1: If I wanted to rent a very nice apartment (3 or 4 bedrooms), how
much would that cost?
#2: If I wanted to buy such an apartment instead, how much would
that cost?
#3: Are cars still heavily taxed in Egypt? How much is a assembled
in Egypt Peugot? or Mecedes?
My wife is Palestinian-American and is a bit nervous about living in
Egypt since she has lived all her life in Chicago.
Your advice is most welcome.
Re: Advice on Moving to Egypt
Peace,
Dokki is one of the high class places in Egypt. It is a nice place. Yes,
streets are clean, and you don't find dificulty shopping in Cairo, Dokki
will be fine too.
An apartment in Dokki would probalby cost higher than elswhere in Cairo.
Starting from 1000 LE/month to 6000 LE/month. You might find something good
for around 2000 to 3000 LE/month. That's for rent (it's called new rent, as
it follows the new law for rent, by which you rent a flat for a specific
number of years only, and the deal could stay that rent increases say 10% in
each of those years). It's easy to find a 'new-rent' flat.
If you wanted to buy a flat, prices range from 150K (LE) in some places in
Nasr City for instance, to let's say 800K (LE) in places like Dokki for a
good flat. Of course there are ones more expensive than that. A flat would
be from 150 squar meters to 250 for big ones here. (There are bigger, yet
more expensive.)
Yes cars are still SO heavily taxed in Egypt, you can find a 100% tax for
instance on some cars!
As for how much an assembled Peugot or Mecedes is in Egypt, maybe other
members could answer this one.
As for your wife, I cannot pretend that everything will be okay for her
here, as you say she has "lived all her life in Chicago." Life in Egypt is
so different from the states or from the West. Here, the word "organization"
is not prevalent. Here many things are not organized. She might find a hard
time adapting to the system here. But if she's of the kind that enjoys
people, and likes socializing then she might find it nice here. Also, if she
tells people here that she is of Palestinin origin, they'll just love here
the more.
On the other hand, if she's of the more 'practical' type, then it won't be
easy for her here.
Hope this helps,
Stay in peace,
Ashraf Al Shafaki
Re: Advice on Moving to Egypt
Dear Alaa,
I wish you all the best in your new post inshalla if you decide to settle in Egypt with your family.
To answer some of your questions:
Dokki is a considered a crowded place but is also near a central shopping area which is Mohandessin. Parking is hectic in Dokki during the working hours but I am sure that a driver can be arranged.
#1 If you are planning to move back for good and settle I suggest you also look into some residential compounds in 6th of October city as an alternative, it is connected to Mohandessin through 2 long bridges so it is around 30 minutes driving to Dokki from 6th of October.
#3: Yes cars are still heavily taxed in Egypt actually their prices went UP around 30% during the past couple of months due to raises in Dollars and Euro, plus the latest raises in sales tax.
I guess a locally assembled Peugeot 406 is around LE 150,000 a local BMW 318 around LE 220,000 a C200 Mercedes is in the range of LE 240,000, check the Renault Megan wich is around LE 110,000 which is a very good option too.
Why not pay Cairo a quick visit with your family before your final decision?
All the best
Mohamed El-Nadi
el-shella.com founder