Egypt’s Digital Payment Transactions Set to Hit EGP 44 Trillion as Adoption Accelerates in 2026
Egypt is witnessing continued expansion in its digital payments market, with electronic transactions projected to reach 10 billion, valued at EGP 44 trillion, by the end of 2026, according to Ehab Nasr, Assistant Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) for the Payments Sector.
Speaking at the Payments and Financial Inclusion Exhibition, held as part of Cairo ICT 2026, Nasr attributed the expected growth to wider adoption of electronic payment solutions and improvements in the country’s national payment infrastructure.
The CBE estimates that transaction volumes will increase by 28% during 2026, while their total value will rise by 33% compared with the previous year.
Instant Payment Network Expected to Process EGP 9 Trillion
The expansion is particularly evident in Egypt’s instant payment services, with the Instant Payment Network and InstaPay expected to handle around 3 billion transactions worth EGP 9 trillion by year-end.
The projected figures represent annual increases of 41% in transaction volume and 66% in transaction value, underscoring the growing reliance on real-time digital financial services.
Electronic Payment Acceptance Infrastructure Strengthens
Egypt’s POS infrastructure has also continued to expand, reaching approximately 1.4 million electronic payment terminals.
By the end of 2026, these devices are expected to process around 978 million transactions with a total value of EGP 1.4 trillion. This would translate into annual growth of 33% in transaction volume and 32% in value.
Mobile Wallets Strengthen Financial Inclusion
Mobile wallets are emerging as another major driver of Egypt’s digital payments growth.
Nasr expects mobile wallet transactions to reach approximately 4 billion by the end of 2026, up 30% from 2025. Their aggregate value is also forecast to surpass EGP 5 trillion, reflecting an increase of 34%.
The figures point to growing user confidence in mobile-based financial services and their expanding role in facilitating daily transactions.
Digital Identity and Android Card Tokenization Among Key Projects
The CBE’s broader payments strategy aims to establish a fully integrated digital financial ecosystem through continued infrastructure development and strategic initiatives.
One of the key projects is the Digital Financial Identity initiative, alongside plans to introduce card tokenization services on Android smartphones in the near term.
The initial rollout will take place through banking applications, with wider service availability planned following the completion of technical integration with international technology companies.
The bank is also working to improve payment acceptance solutions for merchants and businesses, supporting wider adoption of electronic payments.
CBE Explores AI Applications and Enhanced Financial Security
Nasr noted that the CBE is assessing how artificial intelligence can support data analysis, decision-making, operational performance and risk monitoring.
The bank is also considering secure internal AI applications to ensure the confidentiality of institutional data.
He added that enabling financial innovation requires updated regulatory and supervisory frameworks, including Regulatory Sandbox mechanisms that allow new technologies and business models to be tested.
At the same time, the CBE is prioritizing cybersecurity, financial fraud prevention and digital awareness initiatives to maintain a balance between technological innovation and the stability of the financial system.
