Tarek Shoukry, Chairman of the Real Estate Development Chamber at the Federation of Egyptian Industries, confirmed that delays in handing over residential units remain limited and do not reflect the overall condition of Egypt’s real estate market.
He noted that delivery-related complaints concern only a small number of real estate development companies compared with around 15,000 companies registered with the Real Estate Development Chamber. He added that the chamber, in cooperation with relevant government bodies, is working to address these complaints in a way that safeguards buyers’ rights while maintaining investors’ confidence in the sector.
Shoukry stressed the importance of providing swift solutions to any problems faced by affected clients, considering the preservation of the sector’s credibility a top priority.
Efforts to Establish a Developers’ Union
In the context of developing the real estate sector, Shoukry revealed that discussions are underway to establish a new union for real estate developers. This union aims to classify development companies based on their experience, financial standing, and ability to execute projects. Such a classification would achieve a higher level of transparency for buyers and reduce future problems related to delivery delays.
He also explained that the expected union would enjoy broader regulatory powers compared to the current chamber, including the authority to impose penalties on violating companies.
These penalties could range from downgrading a developer’s classification to revoking licenses in serious cases. He further proposed linking the allocation of state land to companies’ classifications, which would enhance sustainable development in the sector.
Speaking about the large number of developers operating in the Egyptian market—exceeding 15,000 companies—Shoukry said that this figure reflects the size and importance of the sector, but at the same time highlights the need for more organized legislation and a clear institutional framework to ensure stability and balance between supply and demand.
He added that the diversity of active companies in the market ranges from major developers managing large-scale projects to small firms operating on a limited scope. While this diversity is important for expanding the investment base, it requires continuous evaluation of each company’s role and the development of mechanisms that match the market’s growing requirements.
Regulating Relations Between Developers and Clients
Shoukry pointed out that such diversity necessitates precise legislation to improve the relationship between developers and clients and to ensure projects are implemented with the specified quality and within set timelines. He affirmed that regulating the real estate market more robustly would contribute to achieving sustainable development.
Market growth in 2025
Regarding market growth, Shoukry stated that 2025 recorded noticeable growth compared with 2023, noting that 2024 was an exceptional year due to citizens’ attempts to preserve their savings amid economic fluctuations.
Data from the Chamber of Commerce showed that real estate sales rose by about 4% annually, reflecting the sector’s stability. Despite this growth, Shoukry emphasized the importance of focusing on the performance of small and medium-sized companies alongside major entities to ensure balanced development.
He explained that the ongoing demand for real estate is mainly driven by population growth exceeding two million people annually, in addition to the local culture that views real estate investment as the best means of storing value and preserving wealth.
He added that real estate has maintained its investment appeal in Egypt throughout the past decade, achieving stable returns even when measured in U.S. dollars, allowing it to outperform currency fluctuations, bank interest rates, and even volatility in stock markets.
