Invest-Gate Highlights Key Recommendations and Proposals for Establishing the Egyptian Real Estate Developers Association

Invest-Gate held its 29th roundtable entitled “Towards an Egyptian Real Estate Developers Association” on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at the Nile Ritz-Carlton Hotel, ‘Alf Leila We Leila’ Ballroom.

The roundtable brought together senior government officials and executives, real estate developers, alongside experts and specialists to discuss the role and potential value for developers and customers. Discussions covered the provision of services, resources, and initiatives that address common challenges, support knowledge and market data sharing, enhance collaboration among various industry stakeholders, and explore the best approaches to ensuring balanced representation of developers across different sizes and business models.

The discussion was moderated by Mr. Amr Elkady, Founder & Managing Director of AKD Advisory, to discuss the importance of establishing the Egyptian Real Estate Developers Association as well as its role in unifying and representing the sector and fostering cooperation with relevant stakeholders.

Participants including Eng. Khaled Sedeik, Chairman of the Board of Urban Development Fund; Dr. May Abdel Hamid, CEO of Social Housing and Mortgage Finance Fund; Eng. Mostafa Abdel Wahab, CEO of Tourism Development Authority (TDA); Eng. Tarek Shoukry, Chairperson of the Real Estate Development Industry Chamber and Chairman of the Economic Affairs Committee at the House of Representatives; Eng. Tarek ElGamal, Chairman of Redcon Properties; Prof. Tarek Azmy Elsheikh, Director of Urban Training and Studies Institute, National Housing and Building Research Center; Dr. Bahaa Salem, Group President of Al Salem Holding; Dr. Raymond Ahdy, CEO of Wadi Degla; Eng. Ahmed Ehab, CEO of Madaar Developments; and Mr. Mostafa Salah, CEO & Board Member of One of One.

These discussions took place in light of Prime Ministerial Decree No. 2184 of 2022, as well as the subsequent efforts and discussions to develop a legislative framework regulating real estate development activities and establishing a professional body for real estate developers. The roundtable focused on gathering the views of various market stakeholders on the proposed association’s mandates and working mechanisms, contributing to the broader discussion surrounding the draft law and its related executive regulations.

The roundtable concluded with a set of recommendations and proposals reflecting the key insights raised during the discussions, foremost among which were:

1. Emphasizing the importance of the provisions set forth in Prime Ministerial Decree No. 2184 of 2022 concerning regulations governing the sale of real estate development units.

2. Adopting a Self-Regulatory Organization (SRO) model within a clear legislative and supervisory framework.

3. Link the developers’ register to an updated professional database that provides, subject to applicable regulations, the necessary information for financing and regulatory authorities and market participants.

4. Develop a standardized model contract or a set of key contractual provisions between developers and buyers to safeguard the rights of both parties.

5. Develop a specialised mechanism for resolving real estate disputes that brings together legal and technical expertise, while considering the possibility of establishing specialised real estate chambers or courts.

6. Support the establishment and continuous updating of an integrated national database covering developers, projects, and the real estate market, in coordination with the relevant authorities.

7. Set a national target for Egypt’s ranking on the Real Estate Transparency Index to attract foreign investment and international real estate funds, and to promote real estate exports.

8. Examine the expansion of escrow accounts and linking the use of funds to progress rates and implementation stages, while establishing mechanisms to address risks arising from cost and currency fluctuations.

9. Activating fund mechanisms to provide guarantees against the risk of project default.

The remaining recommendations and proposals were as follows:

1. Legislative and Regulatory Framework

• Continue discussions on the proposed legislative and regulatory framework for the association, understanding its mandates, powers, and relationship with government and regulatory authorities to limit overlaps and duplication of responsibilities.

• Review the contractual frameworks governing the relationship between developers and buyers, including delivery periods, delays, penalties, and mutual obligations, while considering the development of a unified model contract or a set of core contractual provisions.

• Discuss the scope of membership, registration, and the practice of the profession, clarifying the categories and activities covered by the association, as well as the requirements for registration, classification, and updating developers’ professional records.

2. Governance, Independence and Representation

• Explore the possibility of adopting a Self-Regulatory Organization (SRO) model within a clear legislative and supervisory framework, while defining the boundaries of the relationship between the association and regulatory authorities.

• Develop a framework for balanced representation of different categories of developers according to company size, specialisation, business model, and geographical scope.

• Strengthen institutional dialogue and coordination frameworks between developers, government and regulatory authorities, banks, financing institutions, and service providers associated with the sector.

3. Developer Classification and Regulation of Professional Practice

• Develop a transparent professional classification system for developers based on objective criteria, including financial solvency, technical capabilities, track record, project size, and implementation and delivery rates.

• Take into consideration the circumstances of smaller developers by establishing requirements and transitional pathways proportionate to the scale of their businesses, without compromising professional practice standards.

• Consider establishing a code of conduct and professional standards for real estate development activities, linking the continuation of registration or classification to the level of compliance and professional track record in accordance with legal rules.

• Link the developers’ register to an updated professional database that provides, subject to applicable regulations, the necessary information for financing and regulatory authorities and market participants.

4. Customer Protection, Disputes and Post-Handover

• Explore more effective mechanisms to protect the rights of buyers and purchasers in cases of project delays or defaults, with clear and graduated procedures for addressing violations in accordance with the law.

• Develop a specialised mechanism for resolving real estate disputes that brings together legal and technical expertise, while considering the possibility of establishing specialised real estate chambers or courts.

• Establish a clear framework defining the responsibilities of developers, owners, and facility management and maintenance companies during the post-handover and operational phases, particularly the challenges of collecting maintenance fees and cost differentials required to preserve real estate assets.

• Strengthen standards for the management and maintenance of projects and urban communities to support operational quality and preserve asset value over the long term.

5. Data, Transparency and Digital Transformation

• Support the establishment and continuous updating of an integrated national database covering developers, projects, and the real estate market, in coordination with the relevant authorities.

• Issue regular market indicators and reports, particularly a House Price Index, to provide an objective reference for prices and market trends.

• Set a national target for Egypt’s ranking on the Real Estate Transparency Index to attract foreign investment and international real estate funds, and to promote real estate exports.

• Explore the development of a professional digital platform that, within the applicable legal framework, enables the registration and documentation of data and documents related to transactions, including initial contracts and handover records.

• Support electronic integration between relevant databases and efforts to activate the national real estate identification number system, while also exploring the use of artificial intelligence and digital analytics to analyze market data and develop services.

6. Project Financing and Risk Management

• Explore mechanisms to support and expand real estate financing in line with the needs of different segments, with particular attention to middle-income housing.

• Examine the expansion of escrow accounts and linking the use of funds to progress rates and implementation stages, while establishing mechanisms to address risks arising from cost and currency fluctuations.

• Explore the establishment or activation of funds mechanisms to mitigate project default risks, while defining funding sources, intervention rules, and mechanisms for ensuring sustainability.

• Diversify financing sources for real estate development projects through capital markets, funds, and non-bank financing instruments, alongside bank financing.

• Explore the use of available credit data, including I-Score, to assess repayment capacity in accordance with legal frameworks and data protection requirements.

7. Sector Representation and Competitiveness

• Define the role of the proposed association as a professional representative of the sector in dialogue with the government and regulatory authorities, and in participating in discussions on relevant policies and legislation.

• Develop the professional and knowledge-based services that the association could provide to its members, including training and capacity building, research, market studies, and knowledge exchange.

• Support efforts to promote Egyptian real estate exports and attract international investment by providing reliable data and enhancing levels of trust and transparency.

• Strengthening cooperation with regional and international real estate entities and associations and benefit from comparative experiences and practices.

• Encourage innovation and sustainability in real estate development to enhance the market’s competitiveness and its ability to keep pace with developments in technology, green building, and smart cities.

The roundtable was held in collaboration with AKD Advisory, with Al Salem Holding as the Platinum Sponsor, Wadi Degla Developments as the Gold Sponsor, IL CAZAR as the Delegates’ Bags Sponsor, One of One Developments as the Lanyard Sponsor, and Madaar Developments and Vantage Developments as Silver Sponsors.

Media Partners included: Aleqaria, Al-Borsa Newspaper, Daily News Egypt, Al-Gedaan Real Estate, Aqarmap, Osoul Misr Magazine, Bloom Gate, Property Plus, Aqargate, and Iskan Misr.