Egypt Hiring Guide

Hire compliantly in Egypt. Compare EOR providers, understand mandatory profit sharing and navigate payroll in the largest labor market in the Middle East and North Africa.

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Capital

Cairo

Language

Arabic

Average Salary

EGP 12,000/m

Payroll Cycle

Monthly

Employer Cost

22%

Paid Leave

21 days

Public Holidays

10-12 days

Tax Rates

0-27.5%

Egypt

Egypt Guides

Detailed guides on the employment topics that matter most when hiring in Egypt. Independently researched, updated for 2026.

Minimum Wage in Egypt 2026: What Employers Need to Know

Egypt's minimum wage is EGP 7,000 per month for private sector workers, with a new increase to EGP 8,000 announced for public sector employees from July 2026. This guide covers the full minimum wage framework under Egypt's new Labour Law No. 14 of 2025, including employer social insurance contributions (18.75%), mandatory annual raises, overtime rates, income tax brackets, the profit-sharing obligation, and what it means for companies hiring through an EOR. SEO Focus Keyword: minimum wage in Egypt

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ASO vs. PEO: What’s the Difference?

ASO vs PEO: Whatโ€™s the difference? While both outsource HR and payroll functions, a PEO operates as a co-employer sharing liability, whereas an ASO provides administrative services only. This guide explains key differences in cost, risk, benefits access, and flexibility.

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Best Employer of Record in Egypt

We independently rank EOR providers based on their actual performance in Egypt. The Best EOR in Egypt guide evaluates providers across pricing transparency, local entity ownership, onboarding speed, in-country support and contract compliance.

Egypt’s labor law was overhauled in 2025 with the new Labor Law No. 14. An EOR that is still operating under the old framework will get training fund contributions, contract terms and termination procedures wrong.

Best EORs in Egypt

Before You Hire in Egypt

  • Mandatory profit sharing applies to every employer. Companies must distribute at least 10% of annual net profits to employees, capped at one year’s salary per employee. This is not optional and catches international employers off guard.
  • Social insurance caps increase 15% every January until 2027. The 2026 caps are EGP 2,700 minimum and EGP 16,700 maximum insurable salary. These annual jumps mean payroll costs rise automatically each year.
  • The minimum wage is EGP 7,000/month for private sector. Set by the National Wages Council, last increased in March 2025. Plus a mandatory annual raise of at least 3% of insurable salary with a floor of EGP 250/month.
  • Fixed-term contracts convert after one renewal. Egyptian law treats a fixed-term contract that is renewed even once as an indefinite contract. Structure contracts carefully from the start.
  • New Labor Law No. 14 of 2025 changed key rules. Training fund contributions are now calculated differently (0.25% of minimum insurable salary per employee). Employers with 30+ employees must contribute.

Why hire in Egypt

Largest talent pool in MENA

100+ million people, with over 600,000 university graduates per year. Strong talent in engineering, IT, customer support, finance and Arabic-language services. Cairo alone has more working-age professionals than most Gulf states combined.

Highly cost-competitive

Average salaries are a fraction of Gulf or European rates. A senior software developer in Cairo earns USD 12,000-20,000 annually. For companies serving the MENA region, Egypt offers the best cost-to-output ratio.

Strategic timezone and language bridge

UTC+2 gives strong overlap with European, Gulf and East African business hours. Arabic and English bilingual talent is widely available, making Egypt the natural hub for MENA-facing operations.

Growing tech and BPO ecosystem

Egypt's IT and outsourcing sector has grown significantly, with major investments in Smart Village Cairo and the New Administrative Capital. Government incentives through GAFI support foreign companies setting up operations.

Key Employment Facts

When you hire in Egypt, the mandatory 10% profit sharing, annual social insurance cap increases and a new Labor Law that took effect in 2025 create employer obligations that go well beyond the headline 22% contribution rate. The profit sharing alone has no cap and can significantly impact total cost for profitable companies.

Key Employment Facts
Minimum Wage EGP 7,000/month (private sector)
Probation Period 3 months maximum
Standard Working Hours 48 hours/week (8 hours/day, 6 days)
Paid Annual Leave 21 days (30 days after 10 years or age 50)
Notice Period 2-3 months (by tenure)
13th Salary Not statutory
Sick Leave 6 months (75% first 90 days, 85% next 90)
Maternity Leave 90 days at full pay (up to 3 times in career)

Good to Know: Egypt’s mandatory profit sharing of 10% of net profits is the single biggest variable cost when hiring. It applies to every employer regardless of size and is capped at one year’s total salary per employee. Employees must receive their share within 30 days of the company’s financial year end. Social insurance salary caps increase by 15% every January until 2027, meaning payroll costs rise automatically. For 2026, the insurable salary range is EGP 2,700 (minimum) to EGP 16,700 (maximum). Annual leave increases with tenure: 21 days standard, rising to 30 days after 10 years of service or when the employee reaches age 50. Employees under 18 get 30 days. A mandatory annual raise of at least 3% of insurable salary (minimum EGP 250/month) applies to all employees, set by the National Wages Council.

What to Watch When Hiring Through an EOR in Egypt

Profit sharing is mandatory and non-negotiable

Every employer in Egypt must distribute 10% of net profits to employees. Your EOR must account for this obligation in the cost structure. Some EORs exclude it from their quotes, creating a surprise liability at year-end.

Social insurance salary caps change every January

The insurable salary floor and ceiling increase by 15% annually until 2027. For 2026, the range is EGP 2,700 to EGP 16,700. Your EOR must update these calculations every January or contributions will be wrong.

Foreign employees are subject to social insurance

Since September 2021, all foreign nationals employed in Egypt must participate in the social insurance system at the same rates as Egyptian employees. Some EOR providers still incorrectly exempt foreign hires.

Termination requires cause and formal process

Egypt does not allow at-will termination. Dismissal without legitimate cause entitles the employee to compensation of at least two months' salary per year of service. The process requires documentation and, in many cases, labor court involvement.

Employer Costs and Employee Taxes in Egypt

When you hire in Egypt, the flat employer social insurance rate of ~22% on insurable salary is straightforward, but the mandatory 10% profit sharing has no salary cap and creates an unpredictable cost layer that most EOR providers exclude from their initial quotes.

Employer Contributions
Contribution Employer Rate
Social Insurance (pension, disability, death) 18.75%
Health Insurance 3.25%
Martyrs and Victims Fund 0.5% of net profit
Training Fund (30+ employees) 0.25% of min insurable salary per employee
Profit Sharing 10% of net profits (mandatory)
Total Employer Cost (excl. profit sharing) ~22% of insurable salary
Employee Taxes
Tax / Contribution Employee Rate
Income Tax 0-27.5% (progressive, 8 brackets)
Social Insurance (employee share) 11%
Health Insurance (employee share) 1%
Personal Exemption EGP 15,000/year deduction

Total employer cost in Egypt runs at approximately 1.22x of insurable salary before profit sharing. The insurable salary is capped at EGP 16,700/month in 2026, meaning social insurance costs flatten for higher earners. However, the mandatory 10% profit sharing has no cap and can add significantly to total costs for profitable companies. Budget for it separately.

Public Holidays in Egypt (2026)

Egypt has approximately 10-12 public holidays per year. Islamic holidays follow the Hijri calendar and shift by approximately 10-11 days each year. Dates below are approximate.

Date

Holiday

January 7

Coptic Christmas

January 25

Revolution Day

March 20-22

Eid al-Fitr (approximate, 3 days)

April 12

Coptic Easter Sunday

April 13

Sham El-Nessim

April 25

Sinai Liberation Day

May 1

Labour Day

May 26

Arafat Day

May 27-30

Eid al-Adha (approximate, 3-4 days)

June 17

Islamic New Year (approximate)

June 30

June 30 Revolution Day

July 23

July 23 Revolution Day

August 27

Prophet’s Birthday (approximate)

October 6

Armed Forces Day

Islamic holidays (Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Islamic New Year, Prophet’s Birthday) are determined by moon sighting and may shift by 1-2 days. The government announces exact dates shortly before each holiday. Eid al-Fitr is typically 3 days and Eid al-Adha is typically 4 days. Employees required to work on public holidays are entitled to double pay.

Review the best providers in Egypt

Multiplier
Multiplier

4.5 / 5.0

Deel
Deel

4.5 / 5.0

Remote
Remote

4.6 / 5.0

G-P
G-P

3.8 / 5.0

Aware
Aware

3.2 / 5.0