Egypt

Economy & industry overview

Egypt is the most populous country in the Arab world and North Africa, with an economy driven by hydrocarbons, Suez Canal revenues, remittances, tourism, and agriculture. The government has implemented a series of IMF-backed economic reform programmes since 2016, including currency liberalisation and subsidy reduction, aimed at stabilising public finances and attracting foreign investment. Key industries include textiles, food processing, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, construction, and light manufacturing, with the services sector contributing roughly half of GDP. The Egyptian Exchange (EGX) is one of the oldest and largest stock markets in Africa and the Middle East, with banking and financial services companies commanding the largest share of total market capitalisation. Egypt joined BRICS as a partner state in 2024, reflecting its growing engagement with emerging-market economic blocs.

Key sectors

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Macro

GDP nominal, USD	$429.64B
GDP growth real, annual	4.2%
Inflation annual	14.8%
Population people	110.1M
GDP per capita USD	$3,904
Market cap total listed, USD	$46.57B
Market cap / GDP	10.8%
Unemployment	6.3%
Listed companies	220
Exchange	The Egyptian Exchange (EGX)

Data year: 2025. Sources: IMF World Economic Outlook (April 2026), Wikipedia – Economy of Egypt (citing IMF/World Bank data), Worldometer GDP (citing IMF 2026), Egyptian Exchange (EGX) – egx.com.eg, CEIC Data – Egypt Market Capitalisation EGX (April 2025), Egypt Today – EGX 2024 Milestone Report (January 2025), Forbes Middle East – Egypt's Top 50 Listed Companies 2025 (April 2025), Arab Finance – CIB leads Forbes Middle East Top 50 EGX 2024, CAPMAS – Annual Unemployment Rate 2024 and 2025 (April 2026), Egypt State Information Service – CAPMAS unemployment data, Focus Economics – Egypt Inflation and Unemployment, Trading Economics – Egypt Stock Market & Economic Indicators, SimplyWallSt – Largest Egyptian EGX Stocks by Market Cap, African-Markets.com – EGX Listed Companies.

Local exchange & access

Exchange	The Egyptian Exchange
Code	EGX
Website	www.egx.com.eg
Currency	EGP

Local broker access

Foreign investors may access EGX-listed securities through licensed Egyptian brokerage firms (regulated by the Financial Regulatory Authority, FRA). Several international brokers offer EGX access via custodian arrangements. The EGX operates Sunday–Thursday. Settlement is T+2 for equities. Foreigners face no restrictions on equity ownership in most sectors, though some sectors (e.g., media) have limits. Repatriation of capital and profits is permitted under current regulations. US investors have limited direct ADR options; the primary US-listed ETF providing dedicated Egypt exposure is EGPT (VanEck).

Global brokers with foreign-market access

• Interactive Brokers — Direct access to 90+ markets worldwide, including many emerging exchanges.
• Saxo Bank — Multi-market access across Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
• Charles Schwab (Global) — Foreign ordinary shares on select markets; US-listed ADRs and ETFs.
• Fidelity International Trading — International stock trading on a number of developed and emerging markets.

Listed for convenience only — not a recommendation. Available markets, fees and onboarding rules differ by broker and by your country of residence.

Relocation & residency

Foreign-investor access

Egypt allows foreign nationals to purchase property and establish businesses. Cost of living is relatively low by regional standards. Cairo and Alexandria are the primary expat hubs. Arabic is the official language. The country operates on a fiscal year of 1 July–30 June. Multiple free zones and special economic zones (e.g., Suez Canal Economic Zone) offer incentivised operating conditions for businesses.