In a recent circular issued on 7 August 2024, the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) mandated Egyptian banks to open non-resident bank accounts for foreign customers not residing in Egypt. This directive aims to expand the access by foreigners to a range of banking services allowing them to benefit from the same while ensuring compliance with account opening regulations, KYC requirements and anti-money laundering laws and regulations.
The CBE emphasized the need for such a decision and noted that denying non-residents the opportunity to open accounts could heighten the risks associated with financial transactions conducted outside the regulated market and have adverse effects on the reputation of banks operating within the Egyptian banking sector.

The Financial Regulatory Authority recently published regulations setting out the requirements for establishment and licensing for companies seeking to offer certain non-banking financial services in Egypt (“Fintech Regulations”) which came into force on the 2nd January 2024. The requirements set out under the Fintech Regulations apply to financial technology (“Fintech”) companies seeking to obtain a license to offer mortgage financing, SME financing, microfinance, financial leasing, factoring, and consumer finance services. This marks a significant step for startups in the Egyptian market, providing needed clarity in the form of a unified framework for entry into such market.

The Central Bank of Egypt recently published regulations setting out the licensing and regulatory framework for digital banks in Egypt (“Digital Bank Regulations”) which came into force on 12 July 2023. The Digital Bank Regulations will effectively allow for the establishment and operation of digital banks in Egypt, thus taking a significant step in aligning the country with global trends in financial technology and catering for the needs of a growing Egyptian financial market.

The Financial Regulatory Authority recently issued decrees No. 139, No. 140 and No. 141 completing and complementing the Financial Technology L aw No. 5 of 2022 which sets out the framework for the development and use of Fintech in non-banking financial services. The decrees, which came into force on 11 July 2023, come as part of the FRA’s continuing efforts to transition Egyptian financial markets towards digitization by encouraging the use of Fintech.

A recent Prime Ministerial Decree No. 4664 of 2022 was published on 25 December 2022, incorporating new provisions to the executive regulations of the Capital Markets Law No. 95 of 1992. The Decree provides for the establishment of a voluntary carbon market platform within the Egyptian Stock Exchange for the trading of carbon emissions reduction certificates (CERs). The CERs are tradeable financial instruments for greenhouse gases and are to be issued in favor of entities establishing projects reducing greenhouse gas emissions after obtaining the approval of the relevant authorities which are not currently specified. Each CER unit shall represent the equivalent of one metric ton of carbon dioxide reduced.