- GOEIC's action was triggered by a viral video showing a property gatekeeper demanding a real estate brokerage commission in direct violation of the new rules issued last January 2026.
- The arrest was made possible through close coordination between GOEIC and the Ministry of the Interior to identify and apprehend the individual practicing brokerage without a license.
- The new rules under the Executive Regulations of the Commercial Agency Law have vested MIFT— represented by GOEIC — with full powers to regulate and oversee the real estate brokerage market.
- The new rules formally introduced real estate brokerage as a regulated activity and established a mandatory official registry for brokers, making enrollment a legal prerequisite for practicing the profession.
- A 6-month grace period has been granted to existing practitioners to regularize their status and register in the official registry — a deadline that expires in July 2026.
In line with the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade's (MIFT) drive to regulate the real estate brokerage market and strengthen governance and transparency — and pursuant to the recent amendments to the Executive Regulations of Law No. 120 of 1982 governing commercial agency and brokerage activities, as amended by Law No. 21 of 2022, which newly incorporated real estate brokerage as a regulated activity — the General Organization for Export and Import Control (GOEIC) has acted swiftly on a case that caught the public's eye. A video circulating widely across social media platforms brought to GOEIC’s attention the conduct of a property gatekeeper who had become embroiled in a heated dispute over a brokerage commission — a dispute that arose from his unauthorized practice of real estate brokerage. An investigation confirmed that the individual in question was not enrolled in GOEIC’s records as a licensed practitioner of this activity.
The video, which surfaced on social media on 22 April 2026, showed an individual presenting himself as a real estate broker while allegedly threatening a female citizen in an attempt to extort her into giving him a brokerage commission— in clear violation of the new rules issued under the Executive Regulations of the aforementioned Law, which came into effect last January.
Acting on the directives of Dr. Mohamed Farid Saleh, Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade (MIFT Minister) — who has instructed all entities under MIFT’s umbrella to intensify their oversight of regulated activities, sharpen performance, boost compliance and transparency, and ultimately support market stability, economic efficiency, and the broader goals of sustainable development while safeguarding the rights of all market participants — the GOEIC moved decisively.
In response to the incident, GOEIC deployed its judicial officers from the Anti-Money Laundering, Counter-Terrorism Financing, and Real Estate Brokerage Register Departments, acting in close coordination with the Ministry of the Interior and other relevant authorities. The operation resulted in the apprehension of the individual engaged in the unlicensed practice of real estate brokerage — a clear demonstration of the State's commitment to enforcing the regulatory framework governing this sector.
Under the Executive Regulations of the Law on Commercial Agency and Brokerage Activities, MIFT— represented by GOEIC— is vested with a comprehensive set of tools and powers to regulate and discipline the real estate brokerage market. These include maintaining an official registry for the enrollment of real estate agents, intermediaries, and brokers; verifying compliance with registration and renewal requirements; reviewing and documenting contracts and activity-related data; conducting on-site and electronic inspection campaigns; and initiating de-registration or suspension procedures in cases of regulatory violations. Together, these mechanisms form a robust framework designed to clamp down on unlicensed practices and entrench transparency and discipline across the market.
The significance of bringing the real estate brokerage market under a clear and enforceable legal framework extends far beyond consumer protection. Its impact reverberates through the broader national economy — bolstering confidence in the property market, enhancing its appeal to both domestic and foreign investors, and curbing the informal practices that have long undermined market efficiency.
In recognition of the need for a smooth transition, the amendments to the Executive Regulations granted all those currently practicing real estate brokerage a six-month grace period — commencing the day after the official publication of the amending decree — to regularize their status in accordance with the new rules and complete their registration in the official registry. This window closes in July 2026.
For context, on 25 January 2026, MIFT issued a landmark decree amending the Executive Regulations of the Law on Commercial Agency and Brokerage Activities — introducing, for the first time, a comprehensive regulatory framework specifically tailored to the real estate brokerage profession. At its core, the decree established an official registry dedicated to the enrollment of real estate brokers, making registration a mandatory prerequisite for practicing the profession, while also providing for the public disclosure and regular updating of registrants' data — a measure designed to foster transparency and enable market participants to verify the credentials of those they deal with.
The amendments further laid down a stringent set of operating conditions for brokers. These include that (i) brokers are required to maintain verified electronic records of all transactions, contracts, and commissions; (ii) contracts must include a defined set of mandatory data fields; (iii) registration in the official registry is conditional upon completing accredited specialist training courses. The amendments also tightened compliance with tax obligations and mandated disclosure of all payments made, while establishing robust oversight mechanisms and sharpening the procedures for de-registration or suspension of enrollment in cases of non-compliance — all in service of a more disciplined, efficient, and trustworthy property market.
