CI Capital to launch Egypt’s first equity hedge fund

CI Capital Asset Management is set to introduce Egypt's first equity-focused hedge fund, aiming to attract EGP250 million in assets within the first year of operations, as reported by EnterpriseAM. This development comes as Egypt's investment sector becomes more accessible to alternative fund strategies following the introduction of a new regulatory framework.

Managing director Amr Abol Enein stated that the fund's launch is anticipated before the close of 2026. CI Capital is expecting interest from both retail and institutional investors who seek products providing more flexibility compared to traditional mutual funds. The planned launch follows a significant regulatory change by Egypt's Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA) last month, which opened the door for hedge funds to access a wider array of investment and trading tools, including derivatives and margin trading.

Short selling is also likely to become available once the necessary market infrastructure is set up. For CI Capital, these regulatory changes present an opportunity to establish an early presence in a potentially new segment of Egypt's asset-management industry. Although the EGP250 million first-year target is relatively modest compared to global hedge fund markets, the launch could serve as a blueprint for other local managers as regulators work on expanding the country's investment-product offerings.