ASYUT, Egypt — In the small village of Naza Qarar, in Upper Egypt’s governorate of Asyut, most residents work as demolition contractors and construction rubble dealers. The village is the main center that supplies the towns of Upper Egypt with restored building materials to suit different segments of society, especially after the recent economic decisions by the Egyptian government to float the pound and liberalize the dollar exchange rate, which has led to a price increase for building materials.

Like most Egyptian youth, Abdel Nasser Yassin, who graduated in 1999 with a degree in physical education, has not found a job in his field. For 14 years now, he has been working — like most of the residents of Naza Qarar — as a demolition contractor and construction rubble dealer.

He told Al-Monitor that he buys buildings from owners who want to demolish them after the evacuation of their inhabitants. He then disassembles them and sorts through the rubble looking for rebar, bricks, doors, windows and sanitary ware. He said that he transports rebar to his own workshop for restoration and sells the other materials directly to construction rubble dealers.

He noted that the contractors get their projects through tenders or direct contacts with property owners anywhere in Egypt. He said, “Sometimes we are offered buildings with furniture, furnishings and electrical appliances, such as hotels in Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh.”