The number of active investment funds increased to 187 funds by the end of Q1 2026, up from 172 at the end of 2025.
The Egyptian investment fund industry posted strong expansion in the first quarter of 2026, with net assets rising by about 30% to EGP410.6 billion by the end of March, compared to EGP316 billion in December 2025, driven by new fund launches, broader investor participation, and growing product diversification.
According to the first report issued by the Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA) on investment fund performance, the sector is continuing to gain momentum as one of the key non-banking financial channels in Egypt, reflecting rising investor confidence and deeper market participation amid ongoing economic adjustments.
The report showed that the number of active investment funds increased to 187 funds by the end of Q1 2026, up from 172 at the end of 2025, highlighting continued expansion in asset management activity and greater institutional appetite to introduce tailored investment vehicles.
At the same time, the number of investment fund certificates surged sharply to 31.4 billion compared to 20.3 billion in December 2025, signaling a significant broadening of the investor base.
Individual investors continued to dominate fund ownership, accounting for 74.34% of total holdings, while institutional investors represented 15.98%, underscoring sustained retail confidence in regulated investment products.
By fund category, money market funds in the Egyptian pound remained the largest in terms of net assets, recording EGP 276.5 billion, followed by equity funds at EGP 56.4 billion.
Precious metals funds emerged as the fastest-growing segment, with net assets doubling to more than EGP 10 billion by the end of the quarter, compared to EGP 5.1 billion at the end of 2025, reflecting heightened investor interest in gold-linked instruments.
Returns also showed notable performance across segments, with precious metals funds posting the highest average quarterly return at 20.37%, followed by index funds at 7.54% and private equity funds at 7.21%.
FRA Chairman Islam Azzam said the strong performance underscores the resilience of the Egyptian economy despite global and regional volatility, as well as the growing role of non-banking financial markets in providing diversified and regulated investment options.
He added that the authority continues to develop regulatory and legislative frameworks to enhance transparency, efficiency, and investor protection, while supporting financial innovation and expanding fintech-based solutions in the asset management industry.
