Egypt
Africa / Middle East · Cairo · EGP (Egyptian Pound)
Economy & industry overview
Egypt has a mixed developing economy that is the second largest in Africa and ranks among the largest in the Middle East, with GDP sectors spanning agriculture, industry, and services. Key revenue sources include Suez Canal tolls, hydrocarbon exports, remittances from Egyptians abroad, and a large tourism industry centered on its ancient heritage and Red Sea resorts. The country undertook major IMF-backed macroeconomic reforms in 2024, including the adoption of a flexible exchange rate, following an economic crisis in 2022 to 2023 that pushed inflation sharply higher. Industry encompasses petrochemicals, fertilizers, steel, cement, textiles, and food processing, while a growing fintech and telecommunications sector has gained prominence. Egypt's large and young population of over 100 million people underpins significant domestic consumption and labor supply.
Key sectors
Learn everything about Egypt →Macro
| GDP nominal, USD | $389.06B |
| GDP growth real, annual | 2.4% |
| Inflation annual | 14.8% |
| Population people | 107.8M |
| GDP per capita USD | $3,594 |
| Market cap total listed, USD | $67.40B |
| Market cap / GDP | 17.3% |
| Unemployment | 6.6% |
| Listed companies | 250 |
| Exchange | Egyptian Exchange (EGX) |
Primary data year: 2024. Sources: World Bank (GDP current USD 2024), FocusEconomics Egypt Country Report, IMF World Economic Outlook 2024, Egyptian Exchange (EGX) official data, EFG Hermes Market Data, US State Department 2025 Investment Climate Statement for Egypt, MSCI 2024 Market Classification Review, startamarkets.com EGX market cap rankings, Van Rhijn Legal (golden visa program details), Worldometer Egypt GDP, Wikipedia Economy of Egypt. Individual figures may cover different reference periods — for example a fiscal year, or an estimate for the current year — and the overview above states these where known.
Latest news
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Largest listed companies
The biggest companies on the main local exchange, by market capitalisation. Where a foreign company holds a secondary listing here, it is shown after the domestic companies.
| # | Company | Sector | Market capUSD | US listing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Commercial International Bank Egypt (CIB)COMI · EGX | Financials · Banking | $8.50B | — |
| 2 | Telecom EgyptETEL · EGX | Communications · Telecommunications | $4.96B | — |
| 3 | El Sewedy Electric CompanySWDY · EGX | Industrials · Electrical Equipment | $4.84B | — |
| 4 | Talaat Moustafa Group HoldingTMGH · EGX | Real Estate · Development | $3.49B | — |
| 5 | TMG Holding (alternate reference: see Talaat Moustafa Group)TMGH · EGX | Real Estate · Development | $3.49B | — |
| 6 | Misr Fertilizers Production Company (MOPCO)MFPC · EGX | Basic Materials · Fertilizers | $2.52B | — |
| 7 | Egypt Aluminum (Egyptalum)EGAL · EGX | Basic Materials · Aluminum | $2.52B | — |
| 8 | Qatar National Bank Egypt (QNBE)QNBE · EGX | Financials · Banking | $2.35B | — |
| 9 | Abou Kir Fertilizers and Chemical IndustriesABUK · EGX | Basic Materials · Fertilizers | $2.21B | — |
| 10 | Housing and Development BankHDBK · EGX | Financials · Banking | $2.17B | — |
| 11 | Eastern CompanyEAST · EGX | Consumer Staples · Tobacco | $1.90B | — |
| 12 | Global Telecom HoldingGTHE · EGX | Communications · Telecommunications | $1.80B | — |
| 13 | Ezz SteelESRS · EGX | Basic Materials · Steel | $1.65B | — |
| 14 | Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank Egypt (ADIB Egypt)ADIB · EGX | Financials · Islamic Banking | $1.41B | — |
| 15 | EFG HoldingHRHO · EGX | Financials · Diversified Financial Services | $1.30B | EFGD |
| 16 | Heliopolis HousingHELI · EGX | Real Estate · Development | $1.18B | — |
| 17 | Juhayna Food IndustriesJUFO · EGX | Consumer Staples · Food and Beverage | $950.00M | — |
| 18 | Fawry for Banking Technology and Electronic PaymentsFWRY · EGX | Technology · Fintech | $870.00M | — |
| 19 | E-Finance for Digital and Financial InvestmentsEFIN · EGX | Technology · Financial Technology | $820.00M | — |
| 20 | Orascom Development EgyptORHD · EGX | Consumer Discretionary · Integrated Resorts | $780.00M | — |
| 21 | Palm Hills DevelopmentPHDC · EGX | Real Estate · Development | $760.00M | — |
| 22 | Cleopatra Hospital CompanyCLHO · EGX | Healthcare · Hospitals | $670.00M | — |
| 23 | Faisal Islamic Bank of EgyptFAIT · EGX | Financials · Islamic Banking | $637.00M | — |
| 24 | Edita Food IndustriesEDIT · EGX | Consumer Staples · Packaged Foods | $620.00M | — |
| 25 | Credit Agricole EgyptCIEB · EGX | Financials · Banking | $575.00M | — |
| 26 | Export Development Bank of Egypt (EBank)EXPA · EGX | Financials · Banking | $523.00M | — |
| 27 | Arabian Cement CompanyARCC · EGX | Industrials · Cement | $510.00M | — |
| 28 | Ibnsina PharmaISPH · EGX | Healthcare · Pharmaceutical Distribution | $490.00M | — |
| 29 | Emaar Misr for DevelopmentEMFD · EGX | Real Estate · Development | $460.00M | — |
| 30 | TAQA ArabiaTAQA · EGX | Energy · Utilities and Distribution | $440.00M | — |
US-traded ETFs
Funds listed in the US that give exposure to this market, the simplest route for many US investors.
| ETF | Scope | Expense ratioannual % | Exposure% of fund |
|---|---|---|---|
| EGPTVanEck Egypt Index ETF · VanEck | Single-country | 1.10% | 100% |
| VWOVanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF · Vanguard | Broad EM | 0.08% | 0% |
| EEMiShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF · BlackRock iShares | Broad EM | 0.70% | 0% |
| AFKVanEck Africa Index ETF · VanEck | Regional | 0.78% | 12% |
Local exchange & access
| Exchange | Egyptian Exchange |
| Code | EGX |
| Website | www.egx.com.eg |
| Currency | EGP |
Local broker access
Foreign investors can access Egyptian Exchange equities through international brokers offering access to frontier and emerging markets, including EFG Hermes (the largest regional broker), CI Capital, and Arqaam Capital. Some global online brokers provide access to EGX-listed stocks via their emerging markets platforms. Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs) for several Egyptian companies are available on the London Stock Exchange, providing an alternative access route. The former dedicated US ETF for Egypt (VanEck EGPT) was delisted in March 2024, leaving regional and broad emerging-market ETFs as the primary ETF-based exposure vehicles for US-based investors. Currency risk is a significant consideration given the Egyptian pound's history of devaluation.
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
Investment visa / residency programme
Grants Temporary residency (renewable, 1 to 5 years depending on investment level; does not lead to citizenship)
Egypt operates an investment-based residency program under the Investment Law (Law No. 72 of 2017), as amended in May 2023. Foreign investors can obtain a one-year renewable residency permit by purchasing real estate worth at least USD 50,000 or depositing at least USD 50,000 in a state bank. A real estate or bank deposit investment of USD 100,000 grants a three-year residency permit, and a real estate investment of USD 200,000 grants a five-year residency permit. All permits are renewable for the duration of the investment. This residency does not lead to permanent residency or citizenship. A separate Golden License program, administered by the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI), provides streamlined project approvals for qualifying business investments but is distinct from the residency permit scheme.
Minimum investment: $50.00K
Need help applying? Specialist investment-migration advisers such as Henley & Partners.
Foreign-investor access
Foreign nationals can obtain temporary residency through qualifying real estate purchases or bank deposits starting at USD 50,000. Egypt does not offer a direct path to citizenship through investment. Expatriates living in Egypt generally reside under renewable residence permits tied to employment, property ownership, or investment. The cost of living in Cairo is relatively low by regional standards, and international schools and private healthcare facilities are available. Foreigners may own property in Egypt subject to certain restrictions on the number of properties and location.
US-listed ADRs & cross-listings
Companies from this country whose shares also trade in the US, investable in a normal US brokerage account.
| Company | US ticker | Local ticker | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| EFG Holding (EFG Hermes) | EFGD | HRHO | EFG Holding's Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs) are traded on the London Stock Exchange under the ticker HRHO and the OTC market in the US under EFGD. It is the most internationally accessible Egyptian financial services company, providing exposure to Egyptian investment banking, brokerage, and non-bank financial services. |
| Global Telecom Holding | GTHE | Global Telecom Holding is listed on the EGX and has had international cross-listings. It does not currently have an active US ADR program but has historically attracted interest from international investors given its multi-country telecom operations. | |
| Orascom Construction | ORAS | Orascom Construction is listed on both the EGX (ticker ORAS) and NASDAQ Dubai. It is not listed as a formal ADR in the US market but is accessible to international investors through its Dubai listing. The company is a major engineering and construction group active across the Middle East, Africa, and the United States. |