Egypt Financial Services

The introduction of capital gains tax on equities has been one of the more challenging areas of Egypt’s wide-ranging tax reforms. Introduced in July 2014 and implemented in March of the following year, the 10% levy was subsequently postponed for two years as a result of objections from traders and brokers – a decision which lead to criticism...

Financial inclusion has become a more prominent component of government strategy over recent years, as authorities work to meet the demands for social justice which have arisen from Egypt’s recent political transition. Elsewhere on the continent, microfinance regulation has also played a large role in raising financial inclusion across...

With the largest population in the Middle East, a relatively developed life insurance industry and a government determined to pursue ambitious infrastructure development, Egypt is a promising market for both domestic and foreign insurers. In 2016 premiums collected by the sector grew by more than 12% over the previous year, and an ongoing...

Since the waves of social unrest that swept across the Middle East in 2011, governments from Morocco to Oman have responded with strategies aimed at including a greater proportion of society within the nation’s formal economy; however, these efforts to date have met limited success. According to the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor, a...

Once reserved for ambitious start-ups and industry-leading tech operators, financial technology ( fintech) has since caught the attention of major private sector firms and government planners alike, becoming a regular feature in budget speeches and strategic development plans. As fintech progressively plays a larger part in the lives of...