A customs exemption that allowed passengers to bring mobile phones into Egypt duty-free has officially ended, according to a joint statement issued by the Egyptian Customs Authority and the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA) on Tuesday, January 20, 2026.
The exemption was introduced in January 2025 as part of a broader system to regulate mobile phone imports. Under the policy, travellers were permitted to bring one mobile phone into the country without paying customs duties, on the condition that the exemption would be phased out once sufficient locally manufactured alternatives became available.
That condition, authorities say, has now been met. In their statement, the two agencies noted that 15 international phone manufacturers have established local production facilities in Egypt over the past year, with a combined annual production capacity of 20 million devices exceeding domestic market demand.
Officials said the policy has helped drive significant growth in Egypt’s mobile phone manufacturing sector, enabling the local production of globally available models at competitive prices. Devices are produced either by international brands themselves or under their direct technical supervision, meeting the same quality and technical standards as phones sold abroad.
“This momentum reflects the direct positive impact of regulatory policies that have led to the creation of around 10,000 job opportunities for Egyptian youth, as well as meeting the needs of the local market,” the statement said. “Therefore, there is no longer a need to purchase mobile phones manufactured abroad or to continue the exceptional customs exemption for those devices.”
The decision took effect at 12 noon on Wednesday. However, the exemption will continue to apply to Egyptians living abroad and to tourists for a period of 90 days from the date of entry or phone activation.
Despite the government’s assurances, the move has drawn criticism from some political figures and segments of the public.
Member of Parliament and head of the Justice Party Abdel Moneim Ali Imam said the decision has angered many Egyptians living overseas, pointing to the importance of expatriates to the national economy. He noted that remittances from Egyptians abroad increased by 42.5% between January and November 2025.
Imam questioned whether the policy had been sufficiently studied, given the size of Egypt’s expatriate population.
“The decision has sent a negative message to Egyptians overseas by equating those who bear the burdens of working abroad with transient tourists,” he was quoted as saying in local media reports.
Similar concerns were raised by Mohamed Farid, a representative of the Coordination of Youth Parties and Politicians, who cautioned against using taxation primarily as a revenue-raising tool.
“Taxes are an economic instrument to regulate markets and ensure fair competition, not an easy means to increase state resources at the expense of citizens,” he said.
