In remarks at the sixth Akhbar Al Youm Real Estate Conference, Egypt Financial Regulatory Authority Vice Chair Mohamed El Sayad said the regulator has received its first application to convert a real estate investment company into a real estate investment fund whose units would be listed on the stock exchange. He also said the authority is reviewing 11 applications for licences to promote and underwrite investment fund units and to manage digital real estate platforms, and has granted the first licence to one company to carry on both activities. El Sayad said the authority has been developing the framework for real estate investment funds and digital platforms since 2022 through legislative and regulatory changes. The measures reduced requirements for some activities, removed single project concentration limits, allowed investment in assets that can be registered, enabled multiple issuance funds, permitted property companies to convert into real estate investment funds, simplified increases in fund size, and set rules for electronic subscription, disclosure and exit through digital platforms. Egypt currently has four real estate investment funds with net assets of nearly EGP 9 billion, and the authority is studying 23 applications to establish and license new funds. It has also amended digital identity rules to allow foreign investors to use electronic passports for remote verification and is reviewing applications from outsourcing firms to support remote investment in real estate fund units through licensed platforms.