Egyptian Exchange
Corporate brand
UnclaimedEgypt's national securities exchange, operating integrated Cairo and Alexandria markets under shared governance and infrastructure.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
The Egyptian Exchange (EGX) is Egypt's principal organized securities market. It operates as a unified exchange associated with two historically distinct venues: the Cairo Stock Exchange and the Alexandria Stock Exchange. Although the two markets developed separately, they are governed by a common board and use shared trading, clearing, and settlement systems. The institution is therefore both a national capital-market platform and the successor to a longer Egyptian exchange tradition that extends back to the nineteenth century. The exchange's historical roots are commonly traced to Alexandria in 1883, when a futures market was established there. Alexandria was an important commercial and financial center, and its market activity provided the institutional foundation for later securities trading. The exchange moved to premises on Muhammad Ali Square, now known as El Manshiyya, in 1899. In 1902, brokers established a Brokers' Syndicate that began to formalize market conduct, listing requirements, trading rules, dispute resolution, and procedures for addressing public complaints. Cairo became a second major center of organized financial activity. In 1903, investors and brokers founded the Egyptian Company for Banking and Stock Exchange as a limited liability company. The organization was headquartered in the former Ottoman Bank building on Maghrabi Street, a site later associated with the Groppi Building. By 1908, Cairo had a dedicated trading platform opposite the French Consulate, allowing investors to observe market activity. Egypt enacted its first legislation specifically governing stock exchanges on November 8, 1909. In 1928, the Cairo exchange moved to premises on El Sharifin Street, where the market's institutional presence became more firmly established. Today, EGX provides the infrastructure through which securities are listed and traded in Egypt. Its activities include the operation of equity and other securities markets, the dissemination of market information, and coordination with clearing and settlement arrangements. The exchange's best-known market indicator is the EGX 30 index, while other indices and market measures are used to track listed securities and market performance. The exchange also functions as a gateway for domestic and international investors seeking exposure to Egyptian companies and the wider Egyptian economy. EGX's operating environment is shaped by Egyptian securities regulation and tax policy. Reference material describes stock-market transactions as not subject to capital-gains tax and dividends distributed by listed companies as not subject to income tax under the cited framework, while also recording the introduction in 2013 of a small tax on stock-market transactions. Tax treatment has been subject to government review and policy changes, particularly around capital gains, mergers and acquisitions, and cash dividends. These matters are part of the broader regulatory context in which EGX operates rather than products of the exchange itself. The exchange experienced a major operational disruption during the Egyptian Revolution of 2011. Following the beginning of the uprising on January 25, the market suffered a sharp decline, and trading was suspended after the close of business on January 27. The EGX 30 had fallen substantially during that week. EGX reopened on March 23 after an almost eight-week closure, and the market declined further on the reopening session. The episode demonstrated the exchange's sensitivity to political risk, liquidity conditions, investor confidence, and the continuity of national financial infrastructure. EGX is internationally connected through membership in the Federation of Euro-Asian Stock Exchanges. Its current public-facing identity reflects the consolidation and modernization of Egypt's historic Cairo and Alexandria markets while retaining the legacy of both venues. The exchange remains an active component of Egypt's financial system, supporting capital formation, secondary-market liquidity, price discovery, and public access to listed securities.
History
The institutional history of the Egyptian Exchange begins in Alexandria in 1883 with the establishment of a futures market. Alexandria was then one of Egypt's principal commercial centers, and the creation of an organized market marked an early step toward formal securities and commodities trading. In 1899, the exchange moved to new premises on Muhammad Ali Square, a location now known as El Manshiyya. The market's professional organization developed further in 1902, when brokers formed a Brokers' Syndicate. The syndicate helped establish the rules needed for an organized marketplace, including listing standards, trading procedures, methods for resolving disputes between brokers, and arrangements for handling complaints from members of the public. These functions gave the market a more defined institutional structure before the creation of later statutory frameworks. Cairo emerged as a parallel financial center. In 1903, a group of investors and brokers created the Egyptian Company for Banking and Stock Exchange as a limited liability company. It selected the former Ottoman Bank building on Maghrabi Street as its headquarters. The building later became associated with the Groppi Building. By 1908, Cairo had a dedicated trading platform opposite the French Consulate, where investors could watch trading activity. Egypt adopted its first legislation governing stock exchanges on November 8, 1909, providing a formal legal basis for exchange operations. In 1928, the Cairo exchange relocated to El Sharifin Street. The move was financed by a company established by brokers after the earlier company's operations ended. Cairo and Alexandria continued as important but distinct exchange centers for much of their subsequent history. Their eventual institutional consolidation created the modern Egyptian Exchange, which retains the historical identity of both markets while operating with a common board and shared trading, clearing, and settlement systems. The modern exchange provides a national platform for the listing and trading of securities, market information, and investor access. Its activities are connected to Egypt's wider financial and regulatory system and include the operation of equity and fixed-income markets, the publication of indices, and coordination with post-trade infrastructure. The EGX 30 is the exchange's best-known benchmark. The exchange's resilience was tested during the Egyptian Revolution of 2011. The market fell sharply after the uprising began on January 25, and trading was halted after the January 27 session. The EGX 30 had suffered a major weekly decline by that point. Trading resumed on March 23 after an interruption of almost eight weeks, but the market fell again on the reopening day. This episode underscored the relationship between exchange operations, political stability, investor confidence, and market liquidity. EGX also operates within a changing tax and regulatory environment. Reference material describes exemptions or non-applicability for certain capital-gains and dividend taxes, while recording the introduction of a small transaction tax in 2013 and government efforts to revise other tax measures. The exchange is a member of the Federation of Euro-Asian Stock Exchanges, linking Egypt's market institutionally with a wider regional network. Its present form is thus the result of more than a century of development from separate Cairo and Alexandria trading venues into a unified national exchange.
- 2013
Stock-market transaction tax introduced
[1]Reference material records the imposition of a 0.001 percent tax on stock-market transactions and related debate over other capital-market taxes.
- 2011
Trading suspended during the Egyptian Revolution
[1]The exchange closed after the January 27 session amid severe market declines and reopened on March 23.
- 1928
Cairo exchange moved to El Sharifin Street
[1]The Cairo market relocated to its long-standing El Sharifin Street premises.
- 1909
First exchange legislation enacted
[1]Egypt enacted its first legislation specifically governing stock exchanges on November 8.
- 1903
Cairo exchange company founded
[1]Investors and brokers founded the Egyptian Company for Banking and Stock Exchange in Cairo.
- 1902
Brokers' Syndicate formed
[1]Brokers organized a syndicate that helped define listing standards, trading rules, dispute procedures, and complaint handling.
- 1899
Alexandria exchange relocated to Muhammad Ali Square
[1]The Alexandria market moved to premises on Muhammad Ali Square, now known as El Manshiyya.
- 1883
Alexandria futures market established
[1]The origins of Egypt's organized exchange system are traced to the establishment of a futures market in Alexandria.
Products and positioning
Egypt's central public securities-market platform, combining the historic Cairo and Alexandria exchanges within one governance, trading, clearing, and settlement framework.
Equity securities
Listed equities
EGX provides the primary listing and secondary trading venue for shares of Egyptian public companies. Equity trading supports capital raising, ongoing price discovery, and liquidity for domestic and international investors. The market is represented through broad and sector-oriented indices, including the EGX 30 benchmark.
Debt securities
Fixed-income securities
The exchange provides a market framework for eligible fixed-income instruments. These securities form part of the broader range of capital-market products available through Egypt's organized exchange infrastructure, subject to applicable listing, trading, disclosure, clearing, and settlement rules.
Market index
EGX 30 Index
The EGX 30 is the Egyptian Exchange's best-known benchmark index. It is used to represent the performance of a leading group of exchange-listed securities and to communicate broad market direction to investors, analysts, issuers, and financial media.
Information services
Market data and disclosure services
EGX disseminates information relating to listed securities, trading activity, market indicators, and issuer disclosures. These services support investor monitoring, regulatory transparency, valuation, and the operation of a public secondary market.
Brand decisions
2013
Implementation of a stock-market transaction taxOtherBackground
Egyptian capital-market taxation was under review, including measures affecting transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and cash dividends.
Action taken
Reference material records the imposition of a 0.001 percent tax on stock-market transactions.
Aftermath
The tax formed part of a wider policy debate over the treatment of capital-market activity and investor taxation.
2011
Temporary market closure during the revolutionOtherBackground
Political unrest beginning on January 25 caused severe market volatility and a major decline in the EGX 30.
Action taken
The exchange halted trading after the January 27 session and resumed operations on March 23.
Aftermath
The market fell again on the reopening session, illustrating the continuing effect of political uncertainty on investor confidence and liquidity.
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