Ministerial Decree 1491: What the Official Approval of Samaya Residence Means for Buyers

On 30 September 2026, the Ministry of Housing approved the planning and subdivision of Samaya Residence in October Gardens. Here is what Decree 1491 means and why it matters to buyers.

Ministerial Decree 1491 for Samaya Residence
Ministerial Decree No. 1491 for Samaya Residence, dated 30 September 2026.

On 30 September 2026, Egypt’s Ministry of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities issued Ministerial Decree No. 1491. The decree approves the planning and subdivision of the land of Samaya Residence, the first project by Nile Stone Urban Development in October Gardens (Hadayek October). This article explains what the decree means, why it matters, and what buyers should check for any project.

The decree at a glance

  • Decree number: 1491
  • Date: 30 September 2026
  • Issued by: Ministry of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities
  • Subject: Approval of the planning and subdivision of the project land
  • Project: Samaya Residence, October Gardens, 6th of October, West Cairo
  • Land area: 11.878 feddans
  • Developer: Nile Stone Urban Development, an alliance of four Egyptian real estate developers

You can see the decree and its details on our official decree page.

What does “planning and subdivision” approval mean?

In Egypt, a developer cannot simply buy land and start building. Projects in new cities follow the Unified Building Law, Law No. 119 of 2008, and the rules of the New Urban Communities Authority (NUCA). Before construction, the developer must submit a master plan that shows:

  • How the land is divided into building plots, roads and open spaces.
  • Where each building and service will sit.
  • Building heights, densities and the share of green areas.
  • How the project connects to the city’s roads and utilities.

When the ministry approves this plan by decree, the layout becomes official. It is the legal base for the next steps, such as building permits.

Why the decree matters to buyers

1. Legal security

The first question any buyer should ask before paying a down payment is simple: is the project approved? For Samaya, the answer is now written in an official ministerial decree. The land use, the layout and the plan of the compound are approved by the state.

2. Proof of a serious developer

A decree takes time, technical studies and full compliance with NUCA rules. It shows the project is moving on its official path. Nile Stone is backed by four established developers. Read more about them in our article on the founders of Nile Stone.

3. A clear framework the developer must follow

Decrees of this type come with clear obligations. As an example, El Watan News reported on a similar ministry decree (No. 1488 of 2025) for another project in 6th of October. That decree required the developer to:

  • Get NUCA approval before offering or advertising units, and follow the sales rules in Prime Minister’s Decree 2184 of 2022.
  • Follow the approved timeline and the approved building and height limits.
  • Get all licenses and pay all dues before construction starts.
  • Provide EV charging spaces where required, garages under the Egyptian garage code, and solar energy systems under NUCA rules.

The same report notes that violations can lead to the decree being cancelled. For buyers, this means the state, not only the developer, oversees what gets built.

What the approved plan protects at Samaya

Samaya Residence approved master plan
The Samaya master plan: 16 buildings on 20% of the land.

The approved master plan, supervised by the architect Eng. Raef Fahmy, sets the main features of the compound:

  • Only 20% of the land is built. The other 80% is green space, landscaping and water features.
  • Only 16 buildings in total, for low density and open views.
  • Studios to 4-bedroom units from 52 to 213 m², plus ground-floor units with private gardens.
  • A mall, a mosque, pools, a kids’ area and 24/7 security.

Learn how the plan was designed in our article on Raef Fahmy and the design of Samaya.

Why October Gardens

October Gardens is one of the state’s key growth areas in West Cairo. The city is planned on about 41,000 feddans, according to NUCA officials quoted by Amwal Al Ghad. The Ministry of Housing is also delivering roads, utilities and housing projects there. In March 2025, the ministry reported that 85% of the lighting network in one of the city’s projects had been installed (Ministry of Housing).

Samaya Residence location in October Gardens

The area will also host Hadayek October Station, an interchange between high-speed rail Line 1 and Line 2 (October to Aswan), according to Egypt Today. Samaya is about two minutes from the high-speed train, Zewail City and the Global Village.

A checklist for any off-plan purchase

Whatever project you choose, ask the developer for these before you pay:

  1. The ministerial decree approving the planning and subdivision of the land.
  2. Proof of land ownership or allocation.
  3. The building permit, or the timeline to get it.
  4. A clear, written payment plan and delivery date in the contract.
  5. The developer’s track record and the people behind it.

At Samaya, our team will walk you through each document. Contact us or call 01033339017.

Stay updated

Follow project progress in our Image Gallery and Video Gallery, and on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Read next: Samaya Residence October Gardens: the complete guide to location, master plan, units and amenities.

Sources

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