Egyptians abroad send home $33.9bn in eight months, up 27%
Money sent by Egyptians working overseas reached $4.2 billion in August alone, the central bank says.
Cairo — Egyptians working abroad sent home about $33.9 billion in the first eight months of 2026, the Central Bank of Egypt has reported, a rise of 27.2% on the same period last year.
The figure for January to August 2025 was about $26.6 billion, Daily News Egypt reports.
The figures
- January to August 2026: about $33.9 billion, up 27.2%
- January to August 2025: about $26.6 billion
- August 2026 alone: about $4.2 billion, up 21.7% from $3.5 billion in August 2025
Why the money matters
A banking expert quoted by the newspaper, Shaimaa Wagih, said remittances have become a major part of the Egyptian economy and not only a source of foreign currency.
She made three points:
- The money is steady. It is tied to the earnings of millions of Egyptians abroad, unlike short-term investment that moves with global markets.
- Its real worth depends on where it goes next: into savings, lending, investment and production.
- More of it is now arriving through official channels, which makes banks the main gateway for it and helps them manage their liquidity.
She suggested banks could do more for expatriates and their families by offering savings, investment, financing, payment and digital services, and not treating each transfer as a single transaction.
Source: Daily News Egypt, reporting by Hossam Mounir, 13 October 2026.
