In no other place on the planet is the past as strongly present as it is in Egypt. Thousands of years of civilization exist side by side along the Nile. Even those who have never been fortunate enough to visit the country are aware of the Great Pyramids, the ruins of Karnak and the Valley of the Kings. It can be quite a surprise to discover that modern Egypt has much to offer too, including the elegant new resorts on the Red Sea. Cities such as Sharm El Sheikh have thrived, with hotels and apartments especially popular with tourists and divers. Recent civil unrest has seen the tourism industry suffer, but high yields, low income tax and moderate transaction costs mean that the Egyptian property market is far from a relic of the past.