Egypt EN

MTM i-Map
Migration and Development Layer
EGYPT
Latest update of contents: January 2012
This profile is based exclusively on desk research.

The profile provides data from official national sources to the extent possible, complemented by data of
international organisations and research projects in case national data was not available.
Data may deviate according to source due to differences in data collection methods and in definitions
applied.
Table of Content
EGYPT AT A GLANCE ...................................................................................................................................... 3
THE MIGRATION SITUATION .......................................................................................................................... 5

2.1
2.2
TRANSNATIONAL LIFE OF MIGRANTS .......................................................................................................... 19

3.1
3.2
NATIONAL PROGRAMMES ON RETURN MIGRATION AND REINTEGRATION ............................................33

IMPACT OF RETURN MIGRATION .............................................................................................................33
MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT: ACTORS AND INITIATIVES ...................................................................... 34

6.1
6.2
6.3
6.4
6.5
6.6
NATIONAL LEGISLATION ON ECONOMIC INCENTIVES FOR MIGRANTS ......................................................21

FINANCIAL REMITTANCES DATA: INFLOWS, CHARACTERISTICS AND IMPACT ...........................................21
MIGRANT FINANCIAL REMITTANCES MARKETPLACE: CHANNELS AND COSTS ...........................................28
COLLECTIVE FINANCIAL REMITTANCES AND DONATIONS ..........................................................................31
MIGRANT CAPITAL INVESTMENTS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP ....................................................................31
RETURN MIGRATION AND REINTEGRATION .............................................................................................. 33

5.1
5.2
NATIONAL LEGISLATION AND POLICY FRAMEWORK ON THE TRANSNATIONAL LIFE OF MIGRANTS .............19
INVOLVMENT OF MIGRANT ORGANISATIONS IN THEIR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN ...........................................20
FINANCIAL REMITTANCES TRANSFERS AND MIGRANTS INVESTMENTS ...................................................... 21

4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
EMIGRATION MOVEMENTS .........................................................................................................................5

IMMIGRATION MOVEMENTS (INCLUDING RETURN MIGRATION) ...........................................................12
LINKAGES BETWEEN MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMETN IN NATIONAL POLICIES ........................................34

RELEVANT BILATERAL AGREEMENTS AND OTHER FRAMEWORKS OF COOPERATION ...............................34
DESCRIPTION OF MOST RELEVANT NATIONAL MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT ACTORS ........................36
INITIATIVES RELATED TO THE TRANSNATIONAL LIFE OF MIGRANTS ..........................................................37
INITIATIVES RELATED TO FINANCIAL REMITTANCES INFLOWS AND MIGRANTS INVESTMENTS ...............40
INITIATIVES RELATED TO RETURN MIGRATION AND REINTEGRATION .....................................................41
DATA COLLECTION SYSTEMS ....................................................................................................................... 42

7.1
7.2
DATA ON MIGRATION (INCLUDING RETURN MIGRATION) .......................................................................42

DATA ON FINANCIAL REMITTANCES INFLOWS ...........................................................................................44
Country Profile Egypt

Interactive Map on Migration in Africa, the Middle-East and
the Mediterranean Region (MTM i-Map)
Page 2 of 44
EGYPT AT A GLANCE
Table 1.1 Egypt at a Glance
Topic
Population
Indicator
Total population (estimates,
January 2012)
Growth rate (08/2009)

Males per 100 Females
(1/1/2010)
Birth rate (per 1000) (2008)
Fertility rate (births per woman)
(2009)
Mortality rate (per 1000) (2008)
Under 15 years (total)
(1/7/2009)
15-60 years (of total) (1/7/2009)
60 years and over (of total)
(1/7/2009)
GDP (2009/2010)
GDP per capita (2008)
Economy
GDP growth rate (2008/2009)

External Debt (of GDP) (2009)
Inflation rate (2009)
Unemployment rate (2009)
Main import countries (2011)
Main export countries (2011)
Migration
Net migration rate (per 1000)

Emigration rate of tertiary
educated (2011)
Internal migration (2006)
Data
Source
81,449,013 Central Agency for
Public Mobilization
and Statistics
(CAPMAS) (EN), for
forecasts please refer
to UNDESA (EN)
15.8 % CAPMAS (EN)
104.6 % CAPMAS (EN)
27.3 CAPMAS (EN)
2.8 The World Bank (EN)
6.1 CAPMAS (EN)
43.46 % CAPMAS (EN)
52.8 % CAPMAS (EN)
3.74% CAPMAS (EN)
EGP 1,150,589.6 million* Ministry of Planning
(AR, EN)
USD 1,991** UNDP HDR 2010 (AR,
EN, FR)
15.8% CAPMAS (EN)
17.0 % CAPMAS (EN)
11.8 % CAPMAS (EN)
9.4% CAPMAS (EN)
European Union (EU 27),
World Trade
United States, China,
Organization (WTO)
Saudi Arabia, Republic of (EN, FR) Trade Profile
South Korea
(EN, FR)
EU 27, Saudi Arabia,
WTO (EN, FR) Trade
United States, India,
Profile (EN, FR)
Libya
n/a
n/a
4.6% World Bank Migration
and Remittances
Factbook (EN)
6.6% CAPMAS (EN)

Page 3 of 44
Immigrants (of total population)

(estimates, 2010)
Human Development Index
Rank (2011)
GDI Rank
Human Poverty Index Rank
(2007)
GINI index (2007)
Life expectancy at birth (2007)
Adult Literacy rate (2006)
Development
Population
living
below
USD1.25 per day (2009)
Official Development Assistance
(ODA) Total (2008)
0.3% UNDESA (EN)

113 HDR Stat 2011 (EN,
FR)
n/a n/a
82 UNDP HDR 2010 (AR,
EN, FR)
32.1 UNDP HDR 2010 (AR,
EN, FR)
62 UNDP HDR 2010 (AR,
EN, FR)
66.4% UNDP HDR 2010 (AR,
EN, FR)
Less than 2% UNDP HDR 2010 (AR,
EN, FR)
USD 1,706 million*** Organisation for
Economic CoOperation and
Development (OECD)
(EN, FR)
USD 1,434 million**** OECD (EN, FR)
ODA Committee (DAC)

Countries (2008)
ODA Multilateral Agencies
USD 272 million***** OECD (EN, FR)
(2008)
ODA (Main donors) (2008)
US, France, Japan,
OECD (EN, FR)
Germany, Spain
* EUR 148, 333.024 million ** EUR 1,543 *** EUR 1,322 million **** EUR 1,111 million ***** EUR
211 million
N.B: Currencies were converted according to EC exchange rates (EN, FR) of December of the year in
which the data was collected

Page 4 of 44
THE MIGRATION SITUATION
2.1
EMIGRATION MOVEMENTS
The so-called Arab Spring did not only have a significant social and economic impact on the region, it
also had an impact on migration movements, including immigration, emigration and return
migration. Several reports and surveys provide information on migration and the Arab Spring
including, inter alia:
The IOM (EN, FR) survey Egypt after January 25: Survey of Youth Migration Intentions (May
2011) (EN), which provides information on how the events of the Arab Spring have influenced
their intention to migrate, based on interviews with 750 Egyptian youths; and
The New Eastern Outlook Open Research and Discussion Journal (EN) report Effect of the
Arab Spring on Migration (December 2011) (EN), which provides a brief general overview on
the effects of the Arab Spring on Migration.
Furthermore, IOM (EN, FR) provides statistics on IOM-assisted movements across the Egyptian-Libyan
border throughout March 2011:
IOM Statistics on Operations Egypt - Libya (23 March 2011) (EN);

IOM Statistics on Operations Egypt - Libya (22 March 2011) (AR, EN);
IOM Statistics on Operations Egypt - Libya (9 March 2011) (AR, EN);
IOM Statistics on Operations Egypt - Libya (8 March 2011) (AR, EN); and
IOM Statistics on Operations Egypt - Libya (7 March 2011) (AR, EN).
When reading the following sections on emigration and immigration movements, please bear in mind
that most of the data available are not recent enough to reflect migration movements that took place
in the course or in the aftermath of the Arab Spring, due to the frequency of data collection.

Page 5 of 44
2.1.1
The Extent of Emigration Movements
Stock of Emigrants Abroad

Table 2.1 Egypt: Number of Egyptian
Emigrants Abroad, Census Data, 2006
2006
3,900,000
Source: Central Agency for Public Mobilization and
Statistics (CAPMAS) (EN), quoted in European
Commission, Directorate for Economic and Financial
Affairs, Occasional Papers 60 Labour Market
Performance and Migration Flows in the Arab
Mediterranean Countries: Determinants and Effects.
Volume 3: National Background Papers Mashreq:
Egypt, Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria (2010) (EN),
CARIM (EN, FR) The Migratory Patterns of Egyptians
in Italy and France (2009) (EN).
Stock data on the number of Egyptian emigrants

abroad was provided by the latest Egyptian
population and housing census of 2006, which
contained a short module on Egyptians abroad. This
module was based on questions to non-migrant
respondents in Egypt on their family members
abroad (table 2.1).
Another source for stock data on the number of

Egyptian emigrants are estimates based on consular
records, provided by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign
Affairs (MFA) (AR, EN, FR) and the Egyptian Ministry
of Manpower and Emigration (MME) (EN, AR) (table 2.2). According to the figures presented in tables
2.1 and 2.2, the number of Egyptians living abroad amounts to between 5.5% and 6.5% of the Egyptian
population.
The Global Migrant Origin Database
Table 2.2 Egypt: Stock of Egyptian Emigrants, Estimates of
(EN), launched by the Development
the MFA and MME, Based on Consular Records, 2006
Research Centre on Migration, 2006
4,727,396
Globalisation and Poverty (EN) of the Source: Estimates of the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA)
University of Sussex (EN), provides (AR, EN, FR) and the Egyptian Ministry of Manpower and Emigration
statistical data on Egyptian emigrants (MME) (EN, AR), quoted in the CARIM (EN, FR) report The Migratory
based on data collected through Patterns of Egyptians in Italy and France (2009) (EN).
National Population and Housing Censuses of destination countries, which is downloadable in excel
format here (EN).
Further data on the stock of emigrants is provided by international sources, inter alia:
The World Bank (AR, EN, FR) Migration and Remittances Factbook (EN); and
The UNDP (EN, FR) Human Development Report (2009) (AR, EN, FR).
Emigration Flows
The Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) (EN) publishes data on the yearly
outflows of Egyptian emigrants, which can be accessed under this link (EN).

Page 6 of 44
2.1.2
Main Countries of Destination
In Egyptian statistics, the term temporary emigration is used to refer to emigration towards Arab
countries and the term permanent emigration is used to refer to emigration to the rest of the world
a division that does not mirror the actual duration of stay of emigrants but that rather goes back to
integration policies in destination countries, with Europe and North America being oriented towards
integration, which is not the case in Arab countries, as pointed out in the CARIM (EN, FR) report
Migration Profile Egypt (2010) (EN). This distinction is reflected in estimates of temporary and
permanent Egyptian emigration provided by CAPMAS (EN, AR) (2001) and the MME (AR, EN) (2009)
(tables 2.3 and 2.4).
Table 2.3 Egypt: Estimates of Temporary
Egyptian Emigration by Receiving Country, 2001
Receiving
Number
of %
Country
Migrants
Saudi Arabia
923,600
48.3
Libya
332,600
17.4
Jordan
226.850
11.9
Kuwait
190,550
10.0
UAE
95,000
5.0
Iraq
65,629
3.4
Qatar
25,000
1.3
Yemen
22,000
1.2
Oman
15,000
0.8
Lebanon
12,500
0.7
Bahrain
4,000
0.2
Total
1,912,729
100.0
Source: CAPMAS (EN, AR) (2001), quoted in the Revue
Europenne des Migrations Internationales (EN, FR)
The Place of Egypt in the regional migration system as
a receiving country (2003) (EN).
Table 2.4 Egypt: Estimates of Permanent

Egyptian Emigration by Receiving Country, 2009
Country
of Number of %
Destination
Migrants
USA
318,000
38.6
Canada
110,000
13.3
Italy
90,000
10.9
Australia
70,000
8.5
Greece
60,000
7.3
The Netherlands
40,000
4.9
France
36,000
4.4
UK
35,000
4.2
Germany
25,000
3.0
Switzerland
14,000
1.7
Austria
14,000
1.7
Spain
12,000
1.5
Total
824,000
100
Source: Emigration Sector (AR, EN) of the Ministry of
Manpower and Emigration (EN), History and Statistics
of Egyptian Emigration (AR), 22.07.2009.
The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) (AR, EN, FR) and the Egyptian Ministry of Manpower and
Emigration (MME) (EN, AR), quoted in the CARIM (EN, FR) report The Migratory Patterns of Egyptians in
Italy and France (2009) (EN) provide estimates of the distribution of Egyptian emigrant communities in
major receiving areas in 2006 (graph 2.1), which differ significantly from the 2001 CAPMAS (EN, AR)
estimates presented in table 2.3 and from the 2009 Ministry of Manpower and Emigration (EN)
estimates presented in table 2.4.

Page 7 of 44

Page 8 of 44
2.1.3
Characteristics of Emigrant Population

Gender
CAPMAS (EN) provides annual data on the gender
distribution of Egyptian temporary labour
migrants, which shows that 97% of temporary
labour migrants were male, and 3% were female,
in 2009 (graph 2.2).
Also regarding permanent emigration and those

who acquired emigrant capacity, the majority of
emigrants was male, with 83.6% (graph 2.3). The
terminological distinction between permanent
emigrants and those who acquired emigrant
capacity is explained in the publication History
and Statistics of Egyptian Emigration (2009) (AR)
of the Emigration Sector (AR, EN) of the Ministry of Manpower and Emigration (EN), which states that an
Egyptian is considered having emigrant
capacity if he:
Acquired the nationality of a foreign

country;
Obtained a permanent residence permit
in a foreign country;
Has lived in a foreign country for a
period of less than ten years; or
Obtained an emigration permit from
one of the countries of emigration which
are determined by the minister
concerned with emigration affairs.
Only once an emigrant who has acquired a

foreign nationality has filled in form No 249,
which is available at Egyptian embassies and
which confirms the acquisition of the foreign
nationality, he/she is considered a permanent emigrant.

Page 9 of 44
Age
Graph 2.4 provides data
on
the
permanent
emigrants and those
who acquired emigrant
capacity according to
age groups, provided by
CAPMAS (AR).
No data on age groups
of temporary migrants
could be collected at
this stage.
Level of Education
According
to
data
provided by CAPMAS
(AR),
the
highest
number of permanent emigrants and those who acquired emigrant capacity were academics (graph 2.5).

Page 10 of 44
CAPMAS (AR) provides annual data on Egyptian temporary labour migrants by level of education, which
shows that temporary labour migrants comprised both high and low skills levels in 2009 (graph 2.6).
Business Area/Sector of Activity/Professional Position

According to data provided by CAPMAS (AR), the highest number of permanent emigrants and those
who acquired emigrant capacity were specialists of scientific professions or individuals who could not be
classified by profession (graph 2.7).

Page 11 of 44
No data on Business Area/Sector of Activity/Professional Position of temporary migrants could be

collected.
2.2
IMMIGRATION MOVEMENTS (INCLUDING RETURN MIGRATION)
2.2.1
The Extent of Immigration Movements
Stock of Immigrants
No national data could be collected at this stage.
Table 2.2 Egypt: Number of Immigrants

Number of immigrants
244,714
The Population Division of the United Nations

Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA)
(EN) provides estimates of the number of immigrants
in Egypt at mid-year, based on the national population
censuses (table 2.2).
Source: United Nations, Department of Economic

and Social Affairs, Population Division (2009).
Trends in International Migrant Stock: The 2008
Revision
(United
Nations
database,
POP/DB/MIG/Stock/Rev.2008).

Page 12 of 44
Immigration Flows
No data could be collected at this stage.
2.2.2
Main Countries of Origin

No data on the main
countries of origin of
immigrants in Egypt
could be collected at
this stage.
However, data of the

Ministry of Manpower
and
Emigration
(MOME)
(EN,
AR)
shows that of the
14,416 work permits
granted to foreign
nationals in 2007,
about
55%
were
granted
to
Arab
nationals, and about
40% were granted to
European
nationals,
followed by Asian,
African, and American and Australian nationals to a less significant percentage (graph 2.8).
2.2.3
Characteristics of Immigrant Population
Gender
No national data could be collected at this stage.

Page 13 of 44
According to estimates of the

Population Division of the
United Nations Department of
Economic and Social Affairs
(UNDESA) (EN), based on
national population censuses,
the gender ratio among the
immigrant population in Egypt is
rather balanced, with almost
half of them being female
(graph 2.9).
Age
No data could be collected at
this stage.
Level of Education
No data on the level of education of immigrants could be collected at this stage.
However, CAPMAS (EN, AR) provided data on the distribution of foreign graduates from Egyptian
universities for the year 2006, which shows that Egypt hosted significant numbers of foreign students,
mainly from Arab and non-Arab Asian countries (graph 2.10).
The 2006 census collected data on foreign nationals by nationality and occupation, showing that the
occupations with the highest representation among foreign nationals working in Egypt were sales and
service workers and specialists (graph 2.11).

Page 14 of 44

Page 15 of 44

Page 16 of 44
2.2.4
Main Countries of Origin of Return Migrants
In 2005, return
migrants from
Europe mainly
returned from
Italy and France,
according
to
data collected in
the course of
the Field Survey
Attitudes
of
Egyptian Youth
Towards
Migration
to
Europe (2006)
(EN), which was
carried out in
the framework
of
the
Information Dissemination on Migration (IDOM) project, hosted by the Emigration Sector of the
Egyptian Ministry of Manpower and Emigration (MME) (EN, AR) and supported by the Cooperazione
Italiana (EN) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) (EN) (graph 2.12). The Field survey
was based on 1,552 questionnaires, which were answered by young males between 18 and 40 years of
age.
The IOM (EN, FR) case study Socio-economic profile of Egyptian migrants returning from Libya due to
the crisis; sample analysis (August 2011) (EN) provides information on the Egyptians who returned
from Libya due to the crisis.
2.2.5
Characteristics of Return Migrants to Egypt
This section provides information on the characteristics of return migrants to Egypt in general. In
addition, however, case studies exist that describe the characteristics of return migrants from specific
countries, such as the IOM (EN, FR) case study Socio-economic profile of Egyptian migrants returning
from Libya due to the crisis; sample analysis (August 2011) (EN), which provides information on the
Egyptians who returned from Libya due to the crisis.

Page 17 of 44
Gender and Age

Level of Education
The Egypt Labour Market Panel Survey 2006 (ELMPS 06), published in the Economic Research Forum
(EN) Working Paper An Overview of Internal and International Migration in Egypt (2007) (EN), provides
data on the level of education of return migrants in 2006 (graph 2.13).
The
ELMPS
06
reinterviewed a total sample
of 8,371 households, out of
which 3,701 households
had already participated in
the 1988 Egyptian Labour
Market Survey (ELMS).
2,167 were splits from the
original households, and
2,498 households had not
participated
in
the
previous
survey.
The
ELMPS 06 was conducted
by the Economic Research
Forum (EN) in cooperation
with
the
Population
Council (EN) and the
Source: Economic Research Forum (EN) Working Paper An Overview of Internal and
International Migration in Egypt (2007)
Central Agency for Public
Mobilization and Statistics
(CAPMAS) (AR, EN), supported by USAID-Egypt (EN) and the Ford Foundation (EN).
Graph 2.13 Egypt: Education of Current and Return Migrants in %, 2006


Page 18 of 44
TRANSNATIONAL LIFE OF MIGRANTS
3.1
NATIONAL LEGISLATION AND POLICY FRAMEWORK ON THE TRANSNATIONAL LIFE OF
MIGRANTS
The IOM (EN, FR) study Dynamics of the Egyptian Diaspora: Strengthening Development Linkages (2010)
(EN), which is based on a field survey of Egyptian emigrant communities in Kuwait, the United Kingdom
and the United States of America, provides information on Egyptian emigrant communities in these
countries and their links to their country of origin. According to this study, Egyptian emigrants reported,
inter alia, that many young expatriates refrained from visiting their country of origin because they
feared legal actions for not having completed their military service, which is obligatory for Egyptian
nationals under the age of 30 years. Exemptions from military service are possible, but the required
document is difficult to obtain, particularly due to the fact that the government missions that are
entrusted to issue this document come infrequently abroad. Furthermore, according to the same study,
many expatriates reported that they were not in contact with their embassies abroad and expected little
help from them.
Although the right to vote of all Egyptian nationals was granted by the constitution and by Law No. 73 of
1953, which was amended in 2005 and 2011, voting was hardly possible for many Egyptian expatriates
as they had to vote in actual voting polling stations in the exact district that is listed on national identity
cards, according to the Jadaliyya (AR, EN) article In Historic Ruling, Egyptian court Confirms Voting Rights
for Millions of Expats (2011) (EN). However, many Egyptians abroad were not registered at their
embassies nor did they have national identity cards. After the Arab Spring, many Egyptian expatriates
started to register with their embassies, hoping that they would eventually be able to vote. In
November 2011, an administrative court ruling granted Egyptians abroad the right to vote at Egyptian
embassies and consulates. For further information, please refer to:
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (AR, EN, FR) news release Starting voting abroad at four
supplementary constituencies (EN);
The Jadaliyya (AR, EN) article In Historic Ruling, Egyptian court Confirms Voting Rights for
Millions of Expats (2011) (EN); and
The Al Arabiya News (AR, EN) article Egyptian expatriates vote, but not all of their compatriots
are happy about their patriotism (EN).
Table 3.1 provides an overview on additional legal provisions that are relevant to the transnational life
of migrants.

Page 19 of 44
Table 3.1 Egypt: Legislations and Policy Frameworks with Regard to the Transnational Life of Citizens
Emigration
Legislation
Description
The Emigration
The main goal of the Egyptian Emigration Law is to maintain strong ties with
and Sponsoring
Egyptians abroad, according to the CARIM (EN, FR) report The Migratory Patterns
Egyptians Abroad
of Egyptians in Italy and France (2009) (EN). Overall, the law has two objectives:
Law No. 111 of
To arrange both a permanent and temporary emigration system; and
1983 (EN)
To outline the provisions dealing with providing the necessary care and
extending facilities to Egyptian emigrants before their departure from Egypt,
after their arrival in host countries and to those who decide to return to Egypt.
Source: The information presented in this section derives from the Final report (2010) (AR, EN, FR) of the Joint
ICMPD-IOM Project: Linking Emigrant Communities for More Development Inventory of Institutional Capacities
and Practices (EN)
Legislation
Law No. 26 of 1975
(EN), as amended
by Law No. 154 of
2004 (AR)
Dual Citizenship
Description
Art. 10: An Egyptian may not acquire a foreign nationality except after obtaining
a permission therefore, to be issued by decree of the Minister of Interior. [...]
Source: Law No. 26 of 1975 (EN), as amended by Law No. 154 of 2004 (AR)
3.2
INVOLVMENT OF MIGRANT ORGANISATIONS IN THEIR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN
The EC-funded project European-wide African Diaspora Platform for Development (EADPD) will produce
a Comprehensive Database on African Migrant Organisations, which will provide information on the
African migrant organisations in EU MS and Switzerland working in the field of migration and
development, as well as on their activities and funding sources. As soon as the findings are available,
they will be fed into this section.

Page 20 of 44
FINANCIAL REMITTANCES TRANSFERS AND MIGRANTS INVESTMENTS
4.1
NATIONAL LEGISLATION ON ECONOMIC INCENTIVES FOR MIGRANTS
The Emigration and Sponsoring Egyptians Abroad Law No. 111 of 1983 (AR) provides for financial
incentives to encourage Egyptian emigrants abroad to invest in Egypt.
Table 4.1 Egypt: Legislations Incorporating Incentives Aimed to Encourage the
Return of Financial Resources
Legislation
Description
The Emigration
Article 15 provides the following The returns of the investment of Egyptian
and Sponsoring
migrants deposits in one of the banks operating in Egypt shall be exempted from
Egyptians Abroad all taxes and fees. Egyptian migrants or expatriates capital utilized in projects or
Law No. 111 of
investments in the country shall be granted all the advantages decided for foreign
1983 (EN)
capital operating in the same field, or national capital, which is better. If capital is to
be treated in various ways according to the foreign capital nationality, then the
capital of migrants contributing in the said fields, shall be treated according to the
most advantageous way.
4.2
FINANCIAL REMITTANCES DATA: INFLOWS, CHARACTERISTICS AND IMPACT

4.2.1
Financial Remittances Inflows
According to World Bank Data, Egypt is the most significant recipient of remittances, as quoted in the
IOM Egypt (EN) Migration and Development Factsheet (EN).
Data on flows of workers remittances in Egypt are recorded by the Central Bank of Egypt (EN), which
publishes the Balance of Payments and External Trade in its Annual Reports (AR, EN). They have increased continuously from the Fiscal Year (FY) 2004/05 to 2007/08. From FY 2007/08 to FY 2008/09, a
slight decrease could be observed. From FY 2008/09 to FY 2009/10, workers remittances increased
again (graph 4.1).

Page 21 of 44
An
additional
source providing
data
on
remittances
flows to Egypt is
the World Bank
(AR, EN, FR)
Migration
and
Remittances
Factbook (EN).
World Bank data
on
official
remittances
flows
slightly
varies from the
data
provided
through
the
Central Bank of Egypt, notably because it includes compensation of employees, in addition to workers
remittances and due to different reporting periods (graph 4.2).

Page 22 of 44
The Relative Size of Remittances Inflows

Table 4.2 provides data on the extent of financial remittances as percentage of the Gross Domestic
Product (GDP) and of the receipts of Official Development Assistance (ODA), as well as the ratio of
workers remittances to Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), both from national and international sources.
Table 4.2 - Egypt: Relative Size of Financial Remittance Inflows
According to the Central Bank
According to the UNDP
of Egypt (Fiscal Year
Human Development
2008/2009)
Report (2009)
Inflows total (in millions)
USD 7,806 (EUR 5,537)
USD 7,656 (EUR 5,430)
% of GDP (2006/2007)
4.2
6.0
as % of net ODA receipts
n/a
706.6
Ratio of workers remittances to FDI
n/a
0.7
Source: Annual Report 2008/09 (EN)
Source: UNDP (EN, FR) Human
of the Central Bank of Egypt (EN)
Development Report (2009) (EN)
N.B: Currency converted according to the official EC exchange rate (EN), 01.01.2009
Amount/Frequency of Remittances Inflows to Egypt

Official remittances sent per migrant to Egypt in 2005 amounted to USD 2,091 (=EUR 1773), according to
World Bank Staff Estimates quoted in the ESCWA (AR, EN) Technical Paper International Migration and
Development in the ESCWA Region: Challenges and Opportunities (AR, EN).
An additional source that provides

information on remittances and that
can be consulted for further
information
is
the
RemittancesGateway (EN) Country
Profile (EN) on Egypt. The
RemittancesGateway Flyer (EN)
provides an overview on the types of
information that can be found on the
website.
4.2.2
Main Countries of
Origin of Financial Remittances
The Central Bank of Egypt (EN)
provides data on the origin of financial remittances inflows in its Annual Reports (AR, EN). For the fiscal
Page 23 of 44
year (FY) 2008/09, this

data shows that the most
important
remittances
sending countries to
Egypt were the USA,
Kuwait, the United Arab
Emirates (UAE), and Saudi
Arabia (graph 4.3).
The UNDP (EN, FR)
Human
Development
Report
(2009)
(EN)
provides data on the
origin
of
financial
remittances inflows by
continent,
which
illustrates that with 59% the largest amount of financial remittances comes from Asia (graph 4.4).
4.2.3
Characteristics of Financial Remittances Recipients
Data gathered through the Egypt Labour Market Panel Survey 2006 (ELMPS 06), published in the
Economic Research Forum (EN) Working Paper An Overview of Internal and International Migration in
Egypt (2007) (EN),
shows that in 2006,
the persons sending
remittances
were
mainly spouses with
65%, followed by
sons or daughters
with 23.92%, parents
with 6.4%, siblings
with 2.72%, and
other relatives with
only 1.66% (graph
4.5).
The ELMPS 06 also
provided data on the
characteristics of heads of households receiving remittances as compared to heads of households not
receiving remittances in 2006 (graphs 4.6 to graph 4.8). In addition, please also refer to the IOM (EN, FR)
Page 24 of 44
Study on Remittances and Investment Opportunities for Egyptian Migrants (2010) (EN) for data on the
characteristics of financial remittances recipients.
Gender
Age
According to data gathered through the Egypt Labour Market Panel Survey 2006 (ELMPS 06), published
in the Economic Research Forum (EN) Working Paper An Overview of Internal and International
Migration in Egypt (2007) (EN), the mean age of heads of households not receiving remittances was 47.1
years and the mean age of heads of households receiving remittances was 43.5 years.

Page 25 of 44
Level of Education

Page 26 of 44
4.2.4
Financial
Inflows
Use
of
Remittances
The IOM (EN, FR) Study on

Remittances and Investment
Opportunities for Egyptian
Migrants (2010) (EN) provides
data on the use of remittances
(graph 4.9). The study is based
on a survey of 200 remittancereceiving households that has
been conducted in the four
governorates
of
Cairo,
Menofeya,
Sharkia,
and
Fayoum.

Page 27 of 44
4.2.5
Impact of Financial Remittances
Remittances lead to a reduction of poverty rates, as pointed out in the ESCWA (AR, EN) Technical Paper
International Migration and Development in the ESCWA Region: Challenges and Opportunities (AR, EN).
At the social level, remittances, which are viewed as a sign of success, can, inter alia, stimulate the
emigration of friends and relatives, and lead to different consumer values. The emigration of a family
member may have an impact on the social status and the roles of the household members in the
country of origin, according to the
same source.
4.3
MIGRANT FINANCIAL
REMITTANCES
MARKETPLACE:
CHANNELS AND COSTS
4.3.1
Mode of Financial
Remittances Transfers to Egypt
Data gathered through the Egypt

Labour Market Panel Survey 2006
(ELMPS 06), published in the Economic Research Forum (EN) Working Paper An Overview of Internal and
International Migration in Egypt (2007) (EN), shows that the biggest share of remittances to Egypt has
been sent through informal channels, including 32%, which have been sent through Hawala, 31%, which
have been carried by friends or relatives, 8%, which have been carried by the migrant himself, 7%, which
have been sent by mail, and only 22%, which have been transferred through the banking system (graph
4.11).
The Facility for Euro- Mediterranean Investment and Partnership (FEMIP) (EN) (FR) Study on improving
the efficiency of workers remittances in Mediterranean countries (2006) (EN) states that despite the
large Egyptian banking sector, including 56 banks, recipients of remittances were oftentimes
discouraged by their experiences with banks as Egyptian banks were usually reluctant to give credits to
Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs). This fact may have contributed to remittances receivers
preferring informal transfer channels, according to the same source.
According to the IOM (EN, FR) Study on Remittances and Investment Opportunities for Egyptian
Migrants (2010) (EN), the higher the level of education of a migrant and the higher the amount to be
transferred, the more likely it is that the migrant will transfer remittances through formal channels, i.e.
banks and official money transfer institutions.
Page 28 of 44
4.3.2
Financial Remittances Marketplace
Inbound Remittances Payout Rate by Institution

According to the report Sending Money
Home (2009) (EN), published by the
International Fund for Agricultural
Development
(IFAD)
(EN),
the
concentration of remittance payout
locations in rural areas is 2%.
The same source points out that
Egyptian Banks have the highest inbound
remittances payout rate (76%), followed
by other institutions with 24%. The post,
foreign exchange bureaus (Forex),
microfinance institutions (MFI), and
retail have a payout rate of 0% in Egypt
(graph 4.11).
MTO participation in the remittances
market
Graph 4.12 illustrates that MoneyGram and Western Union are the most important Money Transfer
Operators (MTOs) in Egypt, according to the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) (EN)
report Sending Money
Home (2009) (EN).
In Egypt, there were 3,000
bank branches and 89
money transfer centres in
2004, according to the
European
Investment
Bank, quoted in the
ESCWA (AR, EN) Technical
Paper
International
Migration
and
Development
in
the
ESCWA
Region:
Challenges
and
Opportunities (AR, EN).
Page 29 of 44
4.3.3
Costs of Money Transfers to Egypt
The following Money Transfer Price Comparison Services allow for queries on the money transfer costs
charged by Money Transfer Operators (MTOs) between Egypt and the sending countries covered. In
order to query the costs, please click on the service and select MTO and the amount.
Service
Geldtransfair
(DE)
Geldnaarhuis
(AR, EN, FR)
Remittances
Prices Worldwide (EN)
Send Money
Table 4.4 Egypt: Money Transfer Price Comparison Services

Sending
Amounts
Money Transfer Operators
Established by
Countries
Covered
(MTOs) Covered for Transfers
Covered
to Egypt
Deutsche
Germany
Every
Voxmoney, mobilcash,
Gesellschaft fr
amount up VoiceCash, HypoVereinsbank,
Technische Zuto a
Ria Envia, SEB, 1822direkt,
sammenarbeit (GTZ)
maximum Commerzbank, Sparkasse
(now Deutsche
of EUR
KlnBonn, Ziraat Bank
Gesellschaft fr Inter12,500 (in International, comdirect bank,
nationale ZusammenEUR)
Berliner Volksbank, Dresdner
arbeit (GIZ) (EN))
Bank, ING DIBA, Easy Trans,
MoneyGram, Deutsche Bank,
Stadtsparkasse Mnchen,
Berliner Sparkasse, Sparkasse
KlnBonn, HypoVereinsbank,
Isbank, Kreissparkasse Kln,
ReiseBank, Western Union,
Norisbank, Sparkasse Duisburg,
Sparkasse Essen, VakifBank
International, Volksbank
Bochum Witten, Volksbank Ruhr
Mitte, Mnchner Bank,
Postbank, Volksbank Kln Nord
IntEnt (EN)
The NetherEvery
ABN AMRO (internetbankieren),
lands
amount (in MoneyGram, SNS Bank, ABN
EUR)
AMRO (papier), Western Union,
Rabobank, ING Bank
(internetbankieren), ING Bank
(bankcheque)
World Bank (AR, EN,
Saudi Arabia,
USD 200
MTOs covered vary depending
FR)
United Arab
USD 500
on the country combination
Emirates
between the sending countries
and the receiving countries
available for the respective
Country corridor (EN) and can
be queried here (EN)
UK Governments
Combinations Every
MTOs covered vary depending

Page 30 of 44
Home (EN)
Department for
International
Development (EN)
between 91
sending and
125 receiving
countries are
covered
(access dropdown menu
here (EN))
amount (in
sending
country
currencies)
on the country combination

chosen between 91 sending
countries and 125 receiving
countries and can be queried
here (EN)
NB: This list is not exhaustive

* The information provided on this website is based in a one-time survey that has been conducted in 2007 and is
not being updated.
4.4
COLLECTIVE FINANCIAL REMITTANCES AND DONATIONS
Collective remittances devoted to community development did not play a significant role in Egypt,
according to the Facility for Euro- Mediterranean Investment and Partnership (FEMIP) (EN) (FR) Study on
improving the efficiency of workers remittances in Mediterranean countries (2006) (EN). However,
Egyptian emigrants supported Islamic organisations through the Zaqqat (2-5% of the income that shall
be donated to charitable causes according to the Quran once a year) and the Sadaqqa (voluntary
donations), according to the same source. These Islamic organisations mainly used this money for the
improvement of schools and mosques in their home villages.
4.5
MIGRANT CAPITAL INVESTMENTS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

4.5.1
Entreprises Started/Jobs Created by Egyptian Nationals Abroad in Egypt

4.5.2
Investment Volume of Egyptian Nationals Abroad in Egypt
No national data on migrant capital investment and entrepreneurship could be collected.

According to the IOM (EN, FR) Study on Remittances and Investment Opportunities for Egyptian
Migrants (2010) (EN), the government of Egypt has taken several steps towards the improvement of the
investment climate in Egypt by reforming the legal framework, which was so far, however, hardly
influenced the investment behavior of emigrants. This might be due to a lack of information on one
hand and due to the fact that migrants mainly invest in small and middle enterprises on the other hand.
For further information on the investments of Egyptian emigrants in Egypt, please refer to chapters 9

Page 31 of 44
and 10 of to the IOM (EN, FR) Study on Remittances and Investment Opportunities for Egyptian Migrants
(2010) (EN).
Furthermore, case studies provide information on the capital investment and entrepreneurship of
Egyptian emigrants in certain countries, such as:
The Centro Studi di Politica Internazionale (CeSPI) (IT) publication Egyptian Diaspora
Cooperation with the homeland: migration networks and transnationalism between local
contexts (2005) (EN), according to which many Egyptian migrants in Italy preferred to invest in
Italy rather than in Egypt in the short and middle term, as they perceived Italy to offer more and
less risky investment opportunities, entailing less administrative efforts. However, most
Egyptian emigrants in Italy wished to open a business in Egypt at a later stage to complement
their entrepreneurial activities in Italy, according to the same source. The main reasons for this
wish were a diversification of risks, and the possibility to provide relatives back home with jobs.
Most business activities were small scale and linked to family networks. In rural areas,
investments in the agricultural sector were considered the safest option.
The IOM (EN, FR) case study Egyptian Entepreneurs in Italy trough the Global crisis. Fears, Hopes
and Strategies (AR, EN) provides further information on Egyptian Entrepreneurship in Italy,
including trading and investment operations between Italy and Egypt.
4.5.3
Financial Capacities of Egyptian Nationals Abroad in Egypt
No national data could be collected at this stage. Table 4.5 provides preliminary estimates on savings of
Egyptian emigrant communities.
Table 4.5 Egypt: Preliminary Estimates on Savings of Emigrant Communities
Stock of Emigrant
Emigrant Communities
Emigrant
Emigrant Communities
Communities (mil.)
Savings est., 2009 (USD
Communities Savings savings of domestic
bil.)
of GDP
saving
3.7
6
3%
26%
Source: World Bank (AR, EN, FR) publication Migration and Development Brief 14: Preliminary Estimates of
Diaspora Savings (2011) (EN)
N.B: Calculations of the authors of the publication, using the World Banks Migration and Remittances Factbook
2011 and World Development Indicators. For more detailed information on the methodology please refer to the
Migration and Development Brief 14 (EN)
4.5.4
Diaspora Bonds
No information on Diaspora bonds could be collected at this stage.

Page 32 of 44
RETURN MIGRATION AND REINTEGRATION
5.1
NATIONAL PROGRAMMES ON RETURN MIGRATION AND REINTEGRATION
Table 5.1 Egypt: Legal Framework Facilitating the Return of Egyptian Emigrants
Legislation
Description
The Emigration
Article 16 provides the following: Taking into consideration the provisions of the
and Sponsoring
president of the Arab Republic of Egypts resolution in law no. 73 of the year 1971 , in
Egyptians
relation to the treatment of Egyptian expatriates who return to their homeland , an
Abroad Law No. Egyptian worker who emigrated and had been working in the government , one of
111 of 1983 (EN) the local governance units, general agencies or public sector, and whose resignation
had been accepted for the purpose of permanent emigration, and who returned back
home within two years from the date his resignation has been accepted, shall be reappointed at the entity where he had been working before emigration if he applied
for this within three months from the date of his final return . A worker shall be
appointed to his last post, if it is still vacant, or to another similar post. A person
whose emigration duration exceeds the period referred to in the previous paragraph
may be reappointed, if he meets the conditions required for filling the post. In such
case, the said person shall be exempted from the examination procedures or the
contest required for filling the post.
In 2006, the level of outreach of governmental programmes offering return incentives was assessed as
limited by the World Bank (AR, EN, FR) publication Migration and Skills: The Experience of Migrant
Workers from Albania, Egypt, Moldova and Tunisia (2010) (EN).
5.2
IMPACT OF RETURN MIGRATION
No up-to-date information on the impact of return migrants could be collected at this stage.
However, in 1988, the supplementary survey module on return labour migrants of the special round of
the Labour Force Sample Survey (LFSS), which was carried out by the Central Agency of Public
Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS) (AR, EN) in 1988, provided extensive information on questions
related to return migrants.
Findings of the 1988 LFSS are presented in the following publications:
Return Migration and Entrepreneurship in Egypt (EN);
Return International Migration and Geographical Inequality: The Case of Egypt (2004); and
Overseas Work Experience, Savings and Entrepreneurship Amongst Return Migrants to LDCs
(2001) (EN).
Page 33 of 44
MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT: ACTORS AND INITIATIVES
6.1
LINKAGES BETWEEN MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT IN NATIONAL POLICIES
The Sixth Five-Year Plan 2007 - 2012 (AR, EN) is the current development strategy paper issued by the
Egyptian Ministry of Economic Development (AR, EN). Although it does not point out a specific strategy
that aims at harnessing the potentials of emigrants for development, it addresses selected points
related to migration and development, which are pointed out in table 6.1.
Table 6.1 - Egypt: Migration and Development Issues Covered by the Sixth Five-Year Plan 2007 - 2012
Sector /Issue
Objective/Strategy
Brain Drain
The education strategy outlined in Chapter 6 Human and Social Development (EN)
aims at addressing the shortage in technical professions resulting from emigration of
skilled technicians
Rural
Chapter 7 Local Development (EN) aims at mitigating rural exodus by narrowing the
Exodus
income gap between urban and rural areas
Source: Ministry of Economic Development (AR, EN) Sixth Five-Year Plan 2007 - 2012 (AR, EN)
6.2
RELEVANT BILATERAL AGREEMENTS AND OTHER FRAMEWORKS OF COOPERATION
Relevant Bilateral Agreements

Egypt has signed bilateral agreements on labour migration with, inter alia, the following countries in
order to provide a legal framework for Egyptian citizens abroad (table 6.2).
Table 6.2 Egypt: Bilateral Agreements on Labour Migration

Bulgaria
China (technical cooperation)
Greece
Iraq
Italy
Jordan
Kuwait
Libya
Morocco
Qatar
Senegal (technical cooperation)
Sudan
Yemen
N.B: This list is not exhaustive

Sources: Final report (2010) (AR, EN, FR) of the Joint ICMPD-IOM Project: Linking Emigrant Communities for More
Page 34 of 44
Development Inventory of Institutional Capacities and Practices (EN), Sussex Centre for Migration Research (EN)
report The Development Impact of Temporary International Labour Migration on Southern Mediterranean Sending
Countries: Contrasting Exemples of Morocco and Egypt (2004) (EN), CARIM (EN, FR) Migration Profile Egypt (2010)
Free Movement Areas

Egypt is a Member State of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) (EN, FR)
which has adopted three Protocols related to Free Movement of Persons and Labour. These have so far
not been ratified by Egypt. For further information please refer to the COMESA Website (EN).
Development Cooperation
As shown in the OECD Development Database on Official Development Assistance (EN), the following
Development Assistance Committee (DAC) members and multilateral organisations have provided
Official Development Assistance (ODA) to Egypt in 2008 (table 6.3).
Table 6.3 - Egypt: Official Development Assistance by Development Assistance
Committee (DAC) Members and Multilateral Organisations
DAC Members
Multilateral organisations
Australia
Korea
EU Institutions
Austria
Luxembourg
Global Environment Facility (GEF) (EN)
Belgium
Netherlands
Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria
Canada
New Zealand
United Childrens Fund (UNICEF) (AR, EN, FR)
Denmark
Norway
United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) (EN,
FR)
Finland
Portugal
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) (EN,

France
Spain
FR)
Germany
Sweden
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) (EN, FR).

Greece
Switzerland
Ireland
United
Kingdom
Italy
United
Japan
States
Source: OECD Development Database on Aid, accessed 22.10.2010
The website Aidflows (AR, EN, FR) allows for a visualisation of aid flows to Egypt, as well as data on key
development indicators and millennium development goals.
With regard to the Egypt-EU relations, the framework of cooperation is set out in the Country Strategy
Paper for Egypt (2008 2013) (FR).
Page 35 of 44
6.3
DESCRIPTION OF MOST RELEVANT NATIONAL MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT

ACTORS
The following national actors are active in areas related to Migration and Development in Egypt (table
6.4).
Table 6.4 - Egypt: National Actors Active in the Area of Migration and Development
Ministry
Agency
Involvement with Migration and Development
Ministry of
Emigration Sponsoring of Egyptians abroad, harnessing the Egyptian potential
Manpower
Sector
abroad, and establishing an integrated database on Egyptians abroad.*
and
The Higher Considering the organisation of specialised courses aiming at qualifying
Emigration
Committee potential migrants and provision of Egyptians abroad with the necessary
(AR, EN)
for
cultural and national materials to maintain their ties with Egypt, etc.
Migration
The HCM is set to convene once every three months upon the request of
its chairman. However, the HCM faces challenges to convene regularly
and many of its tasks have not yet been implemented.*
Ministry of
N/a
Protection of legal migrants from racial discrimination and guaranteeing
Foreign Affairs
of rights and dignity of the Egyptian community residing abroad.*
(EN)
Ministry of
N/a
Pursuit of a general policy to facilitate legal emigration, introduction of
Interior (EN)
facilities for Egyptians abroad to ensure that they can enjoy a safe
environment while abroad.*
Supreme
As pointed out in the Emigration and Sponsoring Egyptians Abroad Law
Committee No. 111 of 1983 (EN), a Supreme Committee for Emigration headed by
for
the Minister concerned with Emigration Affairs is to be set up. Further
Emigration information can be found in art. 4 and 5 of the law.
*Source: Information derives from the Final Report (2010) (AR, EN, FR), Joint ICMPD-IOM Project: Linking Emigrant
Communities for More Development Inventory of Institutional Capacities and Practices (EN)
International and regional organisations active in areas related to migration and development include,
inter alia:
African Development Bank Group (EN, FR);
Delegation of the European Union to Egypt (AR, EN)
IFAD (EN)
ILO (EN);
IOM (EN);
UNDP (EN); and
World Bank (AR, EN).

Page 36 of 44
Table 6.6 lists examples of joint chambers of commerce.

Table 6.5 - Egypt: Examples of Joint Chambers of Commerce
Austria Egypt
Great Britain Egypt
Greece - Egypt
Palestine Egypt
Turkey Egypt

Source: Turkey, Egypt sign deal to set up joint chamber of commerce (EN), Joint Egyptian-Palestinian chamber of
commerce established (EN) http://www.arabgreekchamber.gr/en/index.asp, http://aecc1.tripod.com/,
http://www.theebcc.com/membership/why_join
6.4
INITIATIVES RELATED TO THE TRANSNATIONAL LIFE OF MIGRANTS
The following examples of initiatives related to transnational life of migrants have been introduced by
national and international institutions (table 6.6).
Table 6.6 Egypt: Initiatives by National and International Institutions Related
to the Transnational Life of Migrants
Agency
Initiative
Cooperation
Aim
Emigration
Integrated
Donor: Italian Cooperation
To provide a technical tool that
Sector of the Migration
(EN)
supports the Emigration Sector in the
Ministry of
Information
Implementing Agency:
management of regular migration
Manpower
System (IMIS)
International Organization
flows from Egypt, improving migrants
and
2001-2005 (AR, for Migration (IOM) (EN)
social status in destination countries
Emigration
EN)
and channeling human and financial
(MME) (AR,
resources generated by migration.
EN)
The main outputs of the project were
the setting up and launching of a
website for job opportunities abroad
and the creation of a portal for
Egyptian migrants.
Emigration
IMIS Plus 2008- Donor: Italian Cooperation
Fine-tune the integrated information
Sector of the 2010 (EN)
(EN)
system set up in Phase I of the IMIS
MME (AR,
Implementing Agency: IOM
project, enhance socio-economic links
EN)
(EN)
with Egyptians abroad and promote a
more effective management of
Egyptian labour migration.
Emigration
Egyptians
To:
Ministry of Investment
Sector of the Abroad
1) Enhance the development process
(AR, EN, FR)
MME (AR,
Conferences
in Egypt and the investment
Ministry of
Page 37 of 44
EN)
(AR, EN)
organised by
the MME. The
latest one was
held in July
2009 in Cairo.
The
International
Organization
for
Migration
(IOM) (EN),
Regional
Office to the
Middle East
in Cairo (EN)
The
International
Organization
for
Migration
(IOM) (EN),
Regional
Office to the
Middle East
in Cairo (EN)
Research
project:
Dynamics of the
Egyptian
Diaspora Strengthening
Development
Linkages (EN)
(concluded in
July 2010)
Project:
MME (AR, EN)
Enhancing
Existing Bonds
between
the
Egyptian
Diaspora
and
their Homeland
Citizens for
Development
Foundation
(CDF)
Project:
Sustainability in
Development
Projects (EN)
(currently being
implemented)
Middle East
Development
Communications and
Information Technology
(AR, EN)
Ministry of Higher
Education (AR, EN, FR)
Ministry of Education (AR)
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
(AR, EN, FR)
Ministry of Interior (AR,
EN)
Ministry of Defense
Social Fund for
Development (AR)
National Council for Youth
Banque Misr (EN)
Stock Market
Ministry of Manpower and
Emigration (MME) (AR, EN)
(currently being
implemented)
Donors: EC-UN Joint
Migration and Development
Initiative (JMDI) (EN),
European Union (EN, FR).

environment and conditions

2) Enhance interaction with 2nd and
3rd generation migrants and their link
to Egypt
3) Provide opportunity for discussion
on the recent development of the
communication sector in Egypt
4) Provide opportunity for discussion
on political participation and the
democracy process in Egypt
To explore the potential role of

Egyptian emigrants abroad in the
development of their communities of
origin.
The study is based on a field survey of
Egyptian emigrant communities in
Kuwait, the United Kingdom, and the
United States of America.
To:
1) Assist the Egyptian Government in
conducting fact-finding assessments
in various countries hosting a
significant
Egyptian
emigrant
community
2) Assist the MME to link emigration
policy with economic and social
development and enhance existing
bonds between Egyptian emigrants
abroad and their country of origin
To:
1)
Raise the capacity of Local
NGOs in Upper Egypt to implement
sustainable development projects
2)
Provide local NGOs in the
least developed governorates in
Upper Egypt, with needed knowledge
and skills to build sustainable
Page 38 of 44
Dialogue
and
Solidarity
(MEDDS)
GermanArab
Friendship
Association
(DAFG) (AR,
EN)
The Arab
Expatriates
Department
(EN) at the
League of
Arab States
(AR)
Coptic
Orphans
(EN) and
partners
National
Council for
Human
Rights (AR,
EN, FR).
Project:
Entrepreneurial
Knowledge:
Towards Arab
GermanEgyptian
Women
Development
Experience (EN)
(currently being
implemented)
Donors: EC-UN Joint

Migration and Development
Initiative (JMDI) (EN),
European Union (EN, FR).
The Grassroot
Partnership
Initiatives (EN)
2006 - 2009
Support to the
National Council
for Human
Rights (NCHR)
for the Development of a
Comprehensive
Strategy to Safeguard Migrants
Rights (EN)
Donor: Coptic Migrant

Donors
The International
Organization for Migration
(IOM) (EN)
development projects
3)
Help the Arab migrant
community in Cyprus and the
Egyptian community in general
understand the development needs
and prerequisites in the least
developed governorates in Upper
Egypt, explore their potential
futuristic role in developing these
areas and foster future cooperation
To increase the Arab womens
participation in economy by:
1) Enhancing the knowledge of
Egyptian female entrepreneurs on
smallscale projects through transferring entrepreneurial skills to them
from
skilled
Migrant
Arab
businesswomen
in
Germany
2)
Developing
networks
and
partnerships between Arab migrant
businesswomen in Germany and their
counterparts in the Arab countries,
especially in Egypt
3) Supporting Arab migrant businesswomen in Germany to get better
information about job and investment
opportunities, and the current
situation in their home countries
To address the root causes of poverty
by involving migrants in development
initiatives
To promote and safeguard the rights
of Egyptian citizens abroad and
foreign nationals transiting through
Egypt by strengthening national
mechanisms for the protection of
migrants rights through the provision
of technical assistance to the NCHR
for the establishment of a Migration
Unit (MU).

Source: Information derives from the Final Report (2010) (AR, EN, FR) of the Joint ICMPD-IOM Project: Linking
Emigrant Communities for More Development Inventory of Institutional Capacities and Practices (EN), EC-UN
Joint Migration and Development Initiative (JMDI) (EN)
Page 39 of 44
In December 2010, the League of Arab States (AR, EN) Arab Expatriates Department held the First
Conference of Arab Expatriates A Bridge for Communication. Conference documents can be
downloaded here (EN).
6.5
INITIATIVES RELATED TO FINANCIAL REMITTANCES INFLOWS AND MIGRANTS
INVESTMENTS
The following examples of initiatives related to remittances and migrants investments have been
introduced by national and international institutions (table 6.7).
Table 6.7 Egypt: Initiatives by National and International Institutions Related to Remittances
and Other Financial Transfers
Agency
Initiative
Cooperation
Aim
Emigration
Egyptians Abroad
See table 5.2
See table 5.2
Sector of the
Conferences (AR, EN) (see
MME (AR, EN) table 6.6)
The
Research project (under
MME (AR, EN)
To explore the patterns of remittance
International
IMIS (EN) project, see table and the Center
transfers and use at the level of
Organization
6.6): Migrants
for Migration
households in high-migration areas
for Migration
Opportunities for
and Refugee
and the potential of such remittances
(IOM) (EN)
Investment in Egypt
Studies (EN) at
to be pooled and used for
Regional Office (currently being
the American
community-based
development
to the Middle
implemented)
University of
projects
East in Cairo
Cairo (AR, EN)
(EN)
The
IOM is Focal Point of the
UN Country
To support small scale actors to
International
EC/UN Joint Migration &
Team in Egypt
contribute to link migration and
Organization
Development Initiative in
(EN), Delegation development in 16 selected countries
for Migration
Egypt (EN) 2008-2011
of the EU in
of origin. Priority areas: (i) migrant
(IOM) (EN)
Egypt (AR, EN),
remittances, (ii) migrant communities,
Regional Office
and the
(iii) migrants capacities, and (iv)
to the Middle
Egyptian
migrants rights.
East in Cairo
Government
(EN)
Establishment of a website N/A
Key objective:
DFID (EN)
on remittance transfer
To provide persons with up-to-date
costs in selected countries:
comparative information on transfer
www.sendmoneyhome.org
costs between various countries.
Source: Information derives from the Final Report (2010) (AR, EN, FR) of the Joint ICMPD-IOM Project: Linking
Emigrant Communities for More Development Inventory of Institutional Capacities and Practices (EN)

Page 40 of 44
6.6
INITIATIVES RELATED TO RETURN MIGRATION AND REINTEGRATION
The following examples of initiatives related to return migration and reintegration have been
introduced by national and international institutions (table 6.8).
Table 6.8 - Egypt: Initiatives by National and International Institutions Related to Return
Migration and Reintegration
Agency
Initiative
Cooperation Aim
Athens
Network of
Collaborating
Experts
(ANCE) (EN)
Egyptian
Agribusiness
Association,
Egypt
(EAGA) (EN).
Migrant Skills
Transfer in
the
Aquaculture
Industry: The
case of
Greece and
Egypt (EN).
(currently
being implemented)
Donors: ECUN Joint

Migration
and Development
Initiative
(JMDI) (EN),
European
Union (EN,
FR)
To facilitate the development of the Egyptian

aquaculture industry by, inter alia:
Informing Egyptian skilled workers in the Greek
industry on jobs in Egypt
Supporting Egyptian return migrants to find jobs with
reception office'
Creating a database of min. 500 Egyptian workers and
all Egyptian academics/scientists in the aquaculture
and fisheries industries (ACF) in Greece and Egypt
Skills development of Egyptian workers in Greece
Encouraging the migration of skilled people
Strengthening linkages between the Greek and
Egyptian ACF industries
Source: EC-UN Joint Migration and Development Initiative (JMDI) (EN).
Furthermore, the EC- UN Joint Migration and Development Initiative (JMDI) (EN, FR) offers an E-Learning
Course on Running your M&D Project Successfully (EN, FR) free of charge, covering all phases of project
cycle management from Programming to Evaluation, while providing tips based on the experiences of
the JMDI projects.

Page 41 of 44
DATA COLLECTION SYSTEMS
For detailed information on the statistical system of Egypt please refer to:
Country Profiles of Statistical Systems (EN) of the United Nations Department of Economic and
Social Affairs (UNDESA) (AR, EN, FR);
Country profiles (EN) of the World Bank (AR, EN, FR) Bulletin Board on Statistical Capacity (BBSC)
(EN); and
The Guide on the Compilation of Statistics on International Migration in the Euro-Mediterranean
Region International Migration in the Euro-Mediterranean Region (September 2009) (EN) of the
Euro-Mediterranean statistical cooperation (MEDSTAT) (EN), which is funded by the European
Union (EN, FR).
The report Migrants Count: Five Steps Toward Better Migration Data (AR, EN, FR), published by the
Commission on International Migration Data for Development Research and Policy, provides
recommendations to remedy the lack of good data on migration and its effects on development.
7.1
DATA ON MIGRATION (INCLUDING RETURN MIGRATION)
Based on the Presidential Decree 2915 for 1964 (EN), the Central Agency of Public Mobilization and
Statistics (CAPMAS) (EN, AR) is the official source for provision of data, statistics, and reports to assist all
the state agencies and authorities, universities, research centers, and international organisations in
planning, developing, assessing, and making policies and decisions.
Article 11 of this Decree provides that:
Each ministry, governorate, public authority and public institution shall create a department
adjunct to CAPMAS titled "Central Statistical Department" in the ministry, governorate, public
authority or public institution.
The type of data collected is pointed out below (table 7.1).
Table 7.1 Egypt: Main National and International Sources
National Sources
Agency/ type of
data collection
Central Agency
for Public
Mobilisation and
Statistics
(CAPMAS) (AR,
EN) - Population
Frequency
10-yearintervals
Data
provided
The 2006
census
contained a
short
module on
Egyptians
Characteristics
Accessibility
The coverage of data on

resident aliens is not consistent
from one census to another. No
data on place of arrival and
departure was collected
Census data
accessible through
the Central Agency
for Public Mobilisation and Statistics
(CAPMAS) (AR, EN)

Page 42 of 44
Censuses
The Egypt Labor
Market Survey
and the Egypt
Labor Market
Panel Survey,
published by the
Economic
Research Forum
(EN) in cooperation with
the Population
Council (EN) and
CAPMAS (AR,
EN),
Ministry of
Manpower and
Emigration
(MOME) (EN, AR)
and CAPMAS (AR,
EN) - Occasional
field surveys
CAPMAS (AR, EN)
Estimates.
Egypt
Labour
Market
Panel
Survey
(ELMPS
2006);
Egyptian
Labour
Market
Survey
(ELMS
1988)
abroad
The ELMPS
2006
covered,
inter alia,
migration as
well as
remittances
and nonwork
related
income
The survey re-interviewed a

total
sample
of
8,371
households, out of which 3,701
households
had
already
participated in the 1988 ELMS.
2,167 were splits from the
original households, and 2,498
households
had
not
participated in the previous
survey. The ERF Working Paper
Egypt Labour Market Panel
Survey 2006: Report on Methodology and Data Collection
(2007) (EN) elaborates on the
methodology of the ELMPS 06.
Differs according to survey
No regular
intervals
Differs
according to
survey
Annually
Estimates of Estimates are based on:

Egyptian
Border Cards, data on
emigrants
departure & arrival from the
Passports, Emigration &
Nationality Administration (AR,
EN) in the Ministry of Interior
(MoI) (AR, EN)
Work permits of the MoI and
the MOME (EN, AR).
Results of the survey

were published in
the
Economic
Research Forum (EN)
Working Paper An
Overview of Internal
and
International
Migration in Egypt
(2007) (EN). Data
files of the ELMPS
can be requested
from Ms. Nabeel
(nnabil@erf.org.eg).
Survey reports are

freely accessible (e.g.
Attitudes of Egyptian
Youth Towards
Migration to Europe
(2006) (EN)). Raw
data is not accessible
Freely accessible
Source: European Commission, Directorate for Economic and Financial Affairs, Occasional Papers 60, April 2010,
Labour Market Performance and Migration Flows in the Arab Mediterranean Countries: Determinants and Effects.
Volume 3: National Background Papers Mashreq: Egypt, Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria (EN).
International Sources
UN Department of Five-year
Economic and
intervals
Social Affairs
(UNDESA), (EN)
Population Division
(EN) (2009) Trends
in Internat.
Migrant Stock: The
2008 Revision (EN)
Number of
immigrants,
number of
immigrants
as % of
population,
percentage
of female
immigrants
Estimates based on census data.

For further information on data
sources and the methodology
for estimating the international
migrant stock please refer to
http://esa.un.org/migration/ind
ex.asp?panel=4.

Data accessible at:

http://esa.un.org/mi
gration/index.asp?pa
nel=2.
Page 43 of 44
7.2
DATA ON FINANCIAL REMITTANCES INFLOWS

Table 7.2 Egypt: Main National and International Sources
National Sources
Agency/ type of
data collection
Central Bank of
Egypt (EN).
Frequency
Data provided
Accessibility
Quarterly
(Economic Review
(AR, EN)), Annually
(Annual Report
(AR, EN)).
Workers' remittances
Free access
Workers' remittances and

compensation of employees
In the framework of the IFAD
project Sending Money Home
(2009) (EN) surveys were carried
out in 19 countries in collaboration
with microfinance institutions
(MFIs) belonging to the
International Network of
Alternative Financial Institutions
(INAFI) (EN).
Staff in each institution surveyed
200 clients and 400 neighbours
within the geographical coverage
of the MFI branches.
Free access
International Sources
World Bank (AR, EN, Annually
FR).
International Fund
One-time survey
for Agricultural
Development (IFAD)
(EN)

Results of the
survey are
accessible in the
report Sending
Money Home
(2009) (EN),
published by the
International Fund
for Agricultural
Development
(IFAD) (EN)
Page 44 of 44

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MTM i-Map

Migration and Development Layer

Latest update of contents: January 2012

This profile is based exclusively on desk research.

EGYPT AT A GLANCE ...................................................................................................................................... 3

THE MIGRATION SITUATION .......................................................................................................................... 5

TRANSNATIONAL LIFE OF MIGRANTS .......................................................................................................... 19

NATIONAL PROGRAMMES ON RETURN MIGRATION AND REINTEGRATION ............................................33

MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT: ACTORS AND INITIATIVES ...................................................................... 34

NATIONAL LEGISLATION ON ECONOMIC INCENTIVES FOR MIGRANTS ......................................................21

RETURN MIGRATION AND REINTEGRATION .............................................................................................. 33

FINANCIAL REMITTANCES TRANSFERS AND MIGRANTS INVESTMENTS ...................................................... 21

EMIGRATION MOVEMENTS .........................................................................................................................5

LINKAGES BETWEEN MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMETN IN NATIONAL POLICIES ........................................34

DATA COLLECTION SYSTEMS ....................................................................................................................... 42

DATA ON MIGRATION (INCLUDING RETURN MIGRATION) .......................................................................42

Country Profile Egypt

Growth rate (08/2009)

GDP growth rate (2008/2009)

Main export countries (2011)

Net migration rate (per 1000)

Country Profile Egypt

Immigrants (of total population)

0.3% UNDESA (EN)

ODA Committee (DAC)

Country Profile Egypt

THE MIGRATION SITUATION

IOM Statistics on Operations Egypt - Libya (23 March 2011) (EN);

Country Profile Egypt

The Extent of Emigration Movements

Stock of Emigrants Abroad

Stock data on the number of Egyptian emigrants

Another source for stock data on the number of

Country Profile Egypt

Main Countries of Destination

Table 2.4 Egypt: Estimates of Permanent

Country Profile Egypt

Country Profile Egypt

Characteristics of Emigrant Population

Also regarding permanent emigration and those

Acquired the nationality of a foreign

Only once an emigrant who has acquired a

Country Profile Egypt

Country Profile Egypt

Business Area/Sector of Activity/Professional Position

Country Profile Egypt

No data on Business Area/Sector of Activity/Professional Position of temporary migrants could be

IMMIGRATION MOVEMENTS (INCLUDING RETURN MIGRATION)

The Extent of Immigration Movements

Table 2.2 Egypt: Number of Immigrants

The Population Division of the United Nations

Source: United Nations, Department of Economic

Country Profile Egypt

Main Countries of Origin

However, data of the

Characteristics of Immigrant Population

Country Profile Egypt

According to estimates of the

Country Profile Egypt

Country Profile Egypt

Country Profile Egypt

Main Countries of Origin of Return Migrants

Characteristics of Return Migrants to Egypt