Egypt Regulator Cuts Fees To Boost Digital Real Estate Platforms

Egypt’s Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA) has reduced fees charged by Misr for Central Clearing, Depository and Registry (MCDR) for participants operating digital platforms that offer investment in real estate investment fund certificates.

The move is intended to support digital investment mechanisms, expand financial inclusion, and make real estate investment more accessible through regulated platforms supervised by the FRA.

The decision lowers central depository, registration, and custody fees for real estate investment funds, platform operators, and investors. MCDR is responsible for registering investment certificates, recording transactions, maintaining investor records, and providing custody services when requested.

According to FRA Chairperson Islam Azzam, Decision No. 109 of 2026 aims to encourage investment in real estate funds offered through digital platforms and attract more retail investors by reducing participation costs.

Azzam said the fee reductions are designed to expand market participation, improve the efficiency of digital real estate investment platforms, and strengthen financial inclusion. He added that the model could also support the broader real estate sector by enabling developers to offer projects to investors through simplified digital subscriptions backed by disclosure and transparency requirements.

Under regulations issued in 2025, investment funds must provide comprehensive disclosures, while platform operators are required to maintain secure payment and connectivity systems, publish summaries of feasibility studies, provide investor education materials, and establish complaint-handling mechanisms.

The FRA said it has received 11 licence applications to promote and underwrite investment fund certificates and operate digital investment platforms. Four real estate investment funds are currently active in Egypt, with combined net assets approaching EGP 9 billion as of the first quarter of 2026.