Door-to-Door and Unsolicited Sales: Your Right to Say No
Article 16 of Law No. 181 of 2018 explicitly prohibits suppliers from visiting residential units to offer or sell products unless the consumer has made a prior and explicit request for such a visit. This is a strong protection that many expats living in Egypt are unaware of.
What This Means in Practice
- A salesperson who arrives at your apartment or villa uninvited and attempts to sell you products is acting illegally under Egyptian consumer law
- You have the right to refuse entry and to report the company to the Consumer Protection Agency (CPA)
- No contract or agreement entered into under such circumstances can be enforced if you did not explicitly invite the sales visit
Practical Tips for Expats
- If you receive an unsolicited sales visit, document it — note the company name, time, and any identifying information
- Do not sign anything during an uninvited sales visit
- Report the incident to the CPA, particularly if the salesperson is persistent or uses pressure tactics
- Be especially cautious of door-to-door sales of financial products, insurance, or home improvement services — all heavily regulated
Promotional Competitions and Prize Draws
Article 14 regulates promotional competitions and prize draws run by businesses in Egypt. This is relevant to expats who may be invited to participate in in-store competitions, social media contests, or promotional giveaways.
Legal Requirements for Competitions
- No competition may be announced without prior notification to the CPA at least three days before the announcement date
- The CPA has the authority to suspend any competition and related advertising if it believes the competition violates consumer rights or applicable law
- Competitions must not be deceptive, misleading, or structured in a way that disadvantages consumers
Red Flags to Watch For
- Competitions announced with no clear terms and conditions
- Prize draws that require significant purchases or personal data disclosure without clear justification
- Competitions that have not registered with or been acknowledged by the CPA
- Vague or unverifiable prize claims
If you participate in a competition and believe the outcome was manipulated or the prize was not delivered as promised, you can file a complaint with the CPA.
Real Estate Pre-Sales: Critical Protections for Expats
Purchasing or reserving property off-plan is a common practice in Egypt's real estate market, and it carries significant financial risk. Article 15 of Law No. 181 of 2018 provides important protections.
The Building Permit Requirement
Under Article 15, it is illegal to:
- Announce the reservation of real estate units
- Contract for the sale of real estate units
- Sell land intended for construction
- Advertise subdivision of land for sale
...unless a valid building permit has already been obtained in accordance with Egypt's Building Law (Law No. 119 of 2008).
Why This Matters for Expats
Expats are frequently targeted by off-plan real estate developers promising luxury developments at attractive prices. Without a building permit in place at the time of contract, you have little legal certainty that the project will be completed. This legal requirement gives you a concrete pre-purchase checklist item:
- Always ask to see the building permit before signing any reservation or purchase agreement
- Verify the permit's authenticity with the relevant local authority
- Do not rely on promises of a permit being issued in the future
- Have any real estate contract reviewed by a licensed Egyptian lawyer before signing
General Consumer Protections That Apply Across These Situations
Null and Void Clauses (Article 28)
In all consumer contracts — whether for a door-to-door purchase, competition participation, or real estate sale — any clause that reduces the supplier's legal obligations or exempts them from liability under Law No. 181 of 2018 is automatically null and void. You cannot be asked to waive your legal rights as a consumer.
Right to Clear Information
Regardless of the sales channel, all contracts, documents, and invoices must be:
- Written in Arabic in a clear, legible format (Article 5)
- Accompanied by proper invoices and receipts
- Free from deceptive or misleading information (Article 9)
How to File a Complaint with Egypt's Consumer Protection Agency
- Visit the CPA's official offices or website
- Provide all documentation: contracts, invoices, photographs, correspondence
- For urgent safety or health concerns, complaints can be escalated for faster response
- Legal representation is advisable for complex real estate disputes or significant financial losses