Tracking the ups and downs of Egypt’s biggest companies just became easier. On August 17, 2025, the Egyptian Exchange (EGX) unveiled its first-ever mobile app, giving investors real-time access to market data directly from their phones—anywhere in the world.
The launch marks a milestone in the digital transformation of the oldest stock exchange in Africa. Established in 1883 as the Alexandria Stock Exchange, the EGX has witnessed over a century of financial history, from the early days of Egyptian industrialisation to modern-day reforms.
Its latest step into the mobile app economy is not just a technological upgrade but a strategic push to bridge the gap between Egypt’s capital markets and a new generation of investors.
What the EGX app offers
The EGX mobile app is the first of its kind in the exchange’s history, designed to provide both retail investors and the broader public with transparent, real-time information. Launched in beta on Android via Google Play—with an iOS rollout planned—it represents a new chapter in how the exchange communicates with stakeholders.
At its core, the app consolidates market data into a user-friendly interface. Its key features include:
- Real-time market news and updates on listed companies and regulatory developments.
- Detailed data on securities, including share prices, trading volumes, and activity trends.
- Index summaries covering the exchange’s flagship benchmarks—EGX30, EGX70, and EGX100.
- Top gainers and losers, providing at-a-glance snapshots of daily market movers.
- The EGX Dialogue Platform, an interactive channel for users to give feedback and propose improvements directly to the exchange.
By merging transparency with accessibility, the app aims to make financial data as easy to follow as checking the weather or reading the news.
The broader context
The scale and history of the EGX underscore the significance of this launch. Today, the exchange lists more than 300 companies across diverse sectors including banking, construction, energy, and telecommunications. Its market capitalisation has hovered around EGP 2.3 trillion ($50 billion) in recent years, despite macroeconomic headwinds.
The EGX’s indices remain the pulse of the Egyptian economy:
- EGX30: The exchange’s benchmark, featuring the 30 most liquid and highly capitalised blue-chip stocks.
- EGX70: A basket of small and mid-cap companies ranked by activity and liquidity, offering investors exposure beyond the giants of the market.
- EGX100 EWI: A broader index tracking the 100 most active companies, combining both the EGX30 and EGX70.
For an institution of this size and heritage, the introduction of a mobile app is symbolic—long overdue, yet transformative in how market participants engage with the exchange.
Why now?
Egypt is navigating a period of sweeping economic reform, from subsidy rationalisation to privatisation programmes and an expanded role for private investment. At the same time, the country’s demographics are skewed young and digital-first.
With over 116 million mobile connections and more than 96 million internet subscriptions, Egypt has the connectivity infrastructure to support mobile finance tools.
Regional competition is also a factor. Exchanges in Dubai, Riyadh, and Nairobi have moved aggressively in recent years to expand digital access. For the EGX, launching its app is as much about catching up as it is about staying competitive in attracting capital—both local and foreign.
Why the app matters for EGX
While on the surface the app is a technological development, its implications extend far deeper:
- Transparency and efficiency: The EGX has often faced criticism for limited access to real-time data. Making this information instantly available signals a push toward greater market integrity and investor confidence.
- Expanding the investor base: With a digitally native population, the exchange hopes to attract young Egyptians who might otherwise see the stock market as inaccessible. By lowering barriers to entry, EGX could broaden retail participation significantly.
- Alignment with national strategy: The app dovetails with Egypt’s wider digital transformation agenda, particularly in financial services, which is central to the government’s financial inclusion policies.
Wider implications
Globally, mobile apps like Robinhood in the US or EasyEquities in South Africa have sparked waves of new retail participation. While EGX’s app is informational for now, the foundation for similar change is clear.
Key implications include:
- Democratising market access: Market data is no longer confined to brokers and institutions.
- Driving user-led innovation: With the Dialogue Platform, EGX is adopting a participatory approach uncommon in state-linked financial bodies.
- Future potential: Adding portfolio tools, trading functionality, and financial literacy resources could transform the app into a full-fledged investment platform.
Next on the horizon: Trading, education, wider retail access
The pilot launch is just the beginning. The EGX has already signaled that future updates will be shaped by user feedback. Incorporating trading capabilities would mark the next logical leap, giving Egyptians direct access to the market without going through traditional brokers.
There is also scope for the app to become a tool for financial literacy, offering tutorials and resources for first-time investors. In a country where stock market participation remains limited relative to population size, this could have meaningful social and economic impact.
The launch also sends a broader signal: Egypt’s capital markets are preparing to compete regionally and globally in an era where digital platforms increasingly define how investors interact with financial systems.
Laying groundwork for Egypt’s digital investor boom
The current rollout is only a pilot. Future updates, shaped by user feedback, could bring in-app trading and educational content. If realised, EGX would not only modernise how Egyptians invest but also broaden financial literacy in a country where retail participation remains low.
The app may be a small screen, but for Egypt’s capital markets, it opens a big window into the future.
