Egypt’s cabinet reduces fines to settle building violations in many governorates

Egypt’s cabinet said in a statement that fines on illegal buildings in 23 out of 27 Egyptian governorates have been reduced by between 10 and 70 percent, in an effort to ease the burden on low-income citizens.

The decision comes as part of the state’s plan to end unplanned construction of buildings on agricultural land, or on other land, without a license, the statement said.

Egypt has seen a significant rise in illegal construction since the security vacuum that followed the 2011 uprising, with many people constructing multi-storey buildings without acquiring the necessary permits or complying with safety standards.

In January, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi ratified a law allowing owners of buildings constructed illegally to settle these violations , with the exception of those pertaining to safety standards, authorised height or purpose, and historic buildings, among others.

The law put in place a six-month deadline to end violations, set for the end of September.

The governorates included in the decision to reduce fines are Cairo, Alexandria, Beheira, Daqahliya, Sharqiya, Gharbiya, Qalioubiya, Menoufiya, Port Said, Damietta and Kafr El-Sheikh in the northern part of the country.