Women in Real Estate (WIRE) Panel Discusses Resilient Female Leadership in Egypt’s Real Estate Sector at Cityscape Talks
Cairo, September 21, 2023: On the sidelines of Cityscape 2023, Cityscape Talks hosted a panel discussion titled “Resilient Women at the Forefront of the Egyptian Real Estate Landscape,” organized by Women in Real Estate (WIRE). The discussion focused on the role of women in promoting and developing the Egyptian real estate sector, which is predominantly male-dominated.
The panel discussion was moderated by Mona Hussein, CEO and Founder of Mona Hussein Design Studio. The panelists included Dr. Hoda Galal Yassa, President of Arab Women Investors Union (AWIU); Heba El Dessouky, Director of Hospitality Development at City Edge Developments; and Nervein Magdy, Managing Director of Property Finder Egypt.
Mona Hussein emphasized that the representation of women in the real estate sector is steadily increasing. However, men still dominate the majority of the sector, posing challenges to women’s participation as property owners and investors. She highlighted that empowering women is a top priority for Egypt, as outlined in the National Strategy for Empowering Egyptian Women 2030.
Dr. Hoda Galal Yassa, President of AWIU, stated that the entry of women into the real estate field has significantly contributed to its development. There are now many senior businesswomen competing in the sector, particularly in Arab and African countries. The main challenge they face is the male dominance in the real estate industry.
Dr. Hoda also mentioned that AWIU plays a major role in developing various sectors in African countries, including real estate, and highlighted the organization’s contribution to building development in Africa through Egyptian engineers.
Nervein Magdy, Managing Director of Property Finder Egypt, affirmed that women have become integral to development plans in all fields, especially real estate. She emphasized that women’s attention to detail, both professionally and personally, impacts the development of any sector they work in.
She stressed the importance of continuous skill development for women to achieve progress and advance the sector. She noted that women’s role in real estate extends beyond investment, as they contribute significantly in various positions and as developers and real estate brokers.
Heba El Dessouky, Director of Hospitality Development at City Edge Developments, emphasized the need to raise awareness about the importance of female inclusion in all sectors, particularly the Egyptian real estate sector, and its positive impact on development and the economy. She praised the national strategy for empowering women and the government’s support in all fields. Heba explained that one of the factors contributing to women’s success and excellence in the real estate sector is their ability to consider the needs of all family members when designing buildings, which has significantly contributed to sectoral development.
It is worth noting that the second day of the twelfth edition of Cityscape Egypt, the largest and most important real estate exhibition in Egypt and Africa, commenced with active participation from major real estate companies, investors, developers, experts, and visitors interested in real estate. The exhibition, organized by Informa Markets under the patronage of the Ministry of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities, features Cityscape Talks, providing a platform for experts from the public and private sectors to discuss the sector’s most significant developments.
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