The job of a real estate broker in Egypt

Welcome to the course. In eight short lessons you will learn how to start, and stay, in Egyptian real estate. This first lesson is about the job itself: what you do all day, who pays you and what to expect in year one.

What a broker really does here

In Egypt, a broker (often called a “property consultant” in job ads) connects buyers, sellers, landlords and tenants, and gets paid when a deal closes. GOEIC, the state body that keeps the brokers registry, describes the activity as brokering, marketing or mediating deals on buildings or land, for sale, purchase or rent.

Most of the work falls into two worlds:

• Primary sales. You sell new units for a developer, usually off plan, on long instalment plans. This is the biggest part of the market. A Tatweer Misr executive told Invest-Gate in 2022 that brokers handle 70% to 80% of developers’ sales.
• Resale and rentals. You list homes for owners and find buyers or tenants. Here you deal with title papers, negotiation and more paperwork.

Every day you will qualify leads, show compounds and apartments, explain payment plans, follow up on calls and messages, and keep written records. Since the 2022 amendment to Law 120 of 1982, each deal needs a written brokerage contract and an entry in your transaction register. Lesson 4 covers those rules.

Who hires

There are two main employers for a newcomer.

1. Brokerage firms. From small local offices to large networks and franchises such as the RE/MAX offices you can see on our agencies page. They sell projects from many developers, plus resale and rentals.
2. Developers’ in-house sales teams. Some developers rely mostly on their own staff. In a 2017 Invest-Gate article, Oriental Urban Development said about 95% of its sales came from its in-house team, while First Group said brokers sold 60% to 70% of units in coastal areas. So the mix depends on the company.

Where are the deals? In the first half of 2026, East Cairo took 47% of the top 10 developers’ sales, the North Coast 33% and West Cairo 11% (EnterpriseAM, August 2026). Most jobs sit in New Cairo, Sheikh Zayed and 6th of October, with seasonal work on the coast. Browse open roles on CloserPass jobs.

How people are paid

Egypt does not set a commission rate in law. The rate and the payer are whatever the written contract says.

• On developer sales, the developer pays the brokerage. The buyer pays the same price either way.
• On resale, a market rate often quoted is about 2.5% from the seller and 1.5% from the buyer (Invest-Gate, 2017). Treat that as a habit, not a rule.
• Your own pay comes from your employer. Many entry-level ads offer a fixed salary plus commission. One 2026 Cairo ad on Wuzzuf asked for no prior experience and offered a fixed salary, commission, a laptop and a mobile line, but gave no figures.

No reputable source publishes typical agent splits or salaries in Egypt. Ask for the base salary, the split and the payment date in writing before you sign. More detail in broker commission in Egypt.

A realistic first year

Be honest with yourself about the first months.

• Months 1 to 3: training, registration questions, learning projects and areas. Few or no deals.
• Months 4 to 6: first viewings that turn into reservations, often on primary units.
• Months 7 to 12: a small pipeline, repeat clients and referrals if you followed up well.

Developer commissions are not always paid the day the client signs. Ask your agency when the developer pays: on contract, after a share of the price is collected, or later. Keep savings for several months without commission.

Is this job for you?

You will do well if you like people, can take “no” many times a week, and are organised with follow-ups. You also need patience with paperwork, because Egyptian deals often involve primary contracts, title chains and developer approvals.

Rules changed a lot in 2026. Check the official source before you act.

Next lesson: who is allowed to work as a broker in Egypt, and what is not allowed.