CAIRO — The residents and companies of Egypt's North Sinai governorate are running into difficulty as they seek to legalize their ownership of land acquired through the practice of "wad al-yad," or the possession of land without official documentation of ownership. The Egyptian government is certifying some residents' requests for documentation of ownership while denying others'. This selective legalization indicates government corruption, according to some experts, while other experts say that the state's discrimination is perfectly legal.
While illegal in Egypt, the practice of wad al-yad is still widespread in North Sinai, with more than 40,000 pieces of land inherited through the practice, according to a source in the General Directorate of the North Sinai governorate.
