Egypt

Egypt has been a regional banking powerhouse for more than a century and is home to the biggest bank¬ing sector in North Africa. The industry is also one of the region’s most stable, surviving both the economic turbulence that followed the Arab Spring and a more recent foreign currency crisis that saw government auctions of US dollars and the growth of a parallel market for foreign currency....

Since the election of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi in 2014, Egypt’s economic policy has been centred on reducing public sector costs and boosting private sector growth. Five years after Egypt began to implement a comprehensive reform of its economy, the nation’s macroeco-nomic indicators are showing sustained improvement. However, while accelerating growth and a narrowing fiscal deficit have...

Egypt gained independence in 1922 with the end of the British protectorate, but it has operated as a presidential republic since the 1952 revolution. President Abdel Fattah El Sisi is the current leader and has served since June 2014, while the current prime minister and head of government in office since June 2018 is Mostafa Madbouly. The country’s economy has struggled since the 2011...

Egypt continues to strive, not just for energy independence, but to return to its status as a regional exporter. With oil and gas fields in the Gulf of Suez, the Mediterranean Sea and the Western Desert, the country has been a site of energy exploration since the early 20th century. With recent discoveries of major natural gas deposits as well as continued exploration announcements, a low-cost...

The guide contains information on some of the leading hotels in Egypt and contact details for government ministries, embassies and business services, alongside useful tips for first-time or regular visitors.