In recent years, the Egyptian government has intensified its efforts to restructure the real estate market as one of the key drivers of economic growth and foreign direct investment (FDI).

As part of an ambitious urban expansion program that includes the development of new cities and integrated investment zones, public policy has increasingly focused on strengthening governance, enhancing transparency, and establishing regulatory frameworks aligned with international standards.

Within this context, regulating the most investor-facing segments of the market—particularly real estate brokerage—has emerged as a priority. Brokerage plays a pivotal role in marketing, sales operations, and information flow across the sector.

Despite the rapid growth in real estate investments, the activity has long operated without a comprehensive regulatory framework, posing challenges to attracting broader segments of foreign investment.

“Accordingly, the government issued Ministerial Decision No. 578 of 2025, by the Ministry of Investment and External Trade defining the types and categories of real estate brokers to be registered in an official registry. This institutional step aims to regulate brokerage activity, align Egypt’s market with global best practices, and enhance investor confidence in one of the region’s largest real estate markets.

The decision comes at a time of unprecedented expansion in Egypt’s real estate sector, which—according to government estimates—contributes nearly 20% to the country’s GDP, making it one of the largest and most interconnected sectors in terms of investment, employment, and financing.

A Trillion-Pound Market… Without a Regulatory Framework for Brokerage

In recent years, annual real estate investments in Egypt have exceeded EGP 1 trillion, driven by large-scale urban development projects, including the New Administrative Capital, New Alamein, and New Mansoura, alongside a surge in mixed-use developments.

Despite this massive scale, real estate brokerage has operated for years without a unified regulatory structure.

Estimates suggest that thousands are engaged in brokerage activities across Egypt, with a significant proportion operating outside any formal registration or accredited professional qualification system.

This situation has resulted in varying service quality, rising disputes between developers and clients, unregulated marketing practices, and diminished confidence among certain investor segments—particularly foreign investors.

The Real Estate Brokers Registry… An Essential Market-Regulating Tool

Given the rapid growth of Egypt’s real estate sector, establishing a structured regulatory framework has become imperative—particularly for brokerage activity.

The creation of an official registry for real estate brokers represents a proactive step toward building a comprehensive database of practitioners, classifying them into clear categories, and linking professional practice to explicit legal and professional standards.

The registry goes beyond mere documentation of names; it seeks to create a professional ecosystem capable of enhancing service quality and protecting all market stakeholders.

Experts view the registry as a cornerstone for a new phase in Egypt’s real estate market, offering a regulatory infrastructure that supports several strategic objectives, including:

Distinguishing professional brokers from informal practitioners: Enabling differentiation between qualified, registered brokers and unregulated operators, thereby improving service standards and reducing malpractice.

Enhancing workforce efficiency through training and accreditation: Establishing a framework for certified training programs that equip brokers to manage complex transactions in line with international standards.

Reducing legal risks for investors: Through a verified database and clear regulatory guidelines, brokerage transactions become subject to recognized legal procedures, minimizing disputes and strengthening legal protection.

Promoting transparency in real estate information exchange: Regulation enables tracking broker performance and transaction records, supporting informed investment decisions based on reliable data.

Thus, the registry is not merely an administrative measure, but a structural reform aimed at strengthening confidence and stability in one of Egypt’s most vital economic sectors.

Global Benchmarks in Real Estate Brokerage

A comparison with advanced real estate markets underscores that brokerage regulation is a fundamental pillar for transparency and risk mitigation.

In the United States, more than 3 million licensed real estate professionals operate under strict legal and training frameworks, contributing to market efficiency and dispute reduction. In the United Kingdom, over 25,000 brokerage agencies are subject to clear disclosure rules and mandatory dispute resolution mechanisms, reinforcing institutional investor confidence.

In the United Arab Emirates—particularly Dubai—over 30,000 registered brokers operate under a licensing system that prohibits unregistered activity. This regulatory environment has supported billions of dollars in annual foreign real estate investment inflows.

Against this backdrop, Egypt’s recent decision is widely viewed as a strategic move to align the domestic market with international regulatory standards, enhance its attractiveness to foreign investors, and ensure sustainable sector growth.

“Invest-Gate” Roundtable Lays the Foundations for Brokerage Reform

Within this context, in 2022, Invest-Gate convened a roundtable discussion to examine the future of real estate brokerage in Egypt at a critical juncture marked by accelerating regulatory reforms.

The discussions produced a series of key recommendations reflecting a comprehensive vision for sector development.

Participants emphasized the need for legislative regulation, the establishment of an independent supervisory authority, and the implementation of mandatory licensing for brokers. They also called for clear commission guidelines to reduce informality and safeguard client rights.

The roundtable further highlighted the importance of digitizing brokerage operations and launching a unified national platform featuring a comprehensive database of Egypt’s real estate inventory. Such measures would enhance transparency and facilitate access to reliable information—particularly for foreign investors.

In addition, participants stressed the necessity of continuous professional training, academic qualification pathways, and the institutionalization of ethical standards to ensure market sustainability and strengthen investment appeal.

This initiative underscores Invest-Gate’s role as an active dialogue platform connecting market stakeholders and policymakers, advancing practical, actionable recommendations that contribute to formalizing brokerage activity, positioning Egypt on the global property export map, and attracting increased foreign direct investment.

Real Estate Brokerage Enters the Era of Governance

Ultimately, regulating real estate brokerage should not be viewed as a temporary administrative action, but rather as a central component of a broader restructuring of Egypt’s real estate market aimed at enhancing regional and international competitiveness.

As investment volumes expand and foreign investor interest grows, governance, transparency, and institutional oversight become indispensable to ensuring sustainable growth.

The establishment of an official registry marks a decisive step toward a more disciplined and professional market—one that strengthens investor confidence, protects stakeholder rights, and supports Egypt’s strategy to position real estate exports as a key source of foreign currency inflows.

With these developments, Egypt’s real estate brokerage sector appears to be entering a new phase—defined by regulation and driven by sustainabilit.